MAORI LANDS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20022, 12 February 1927, Page 9

MAORI LANDS.

ALLEGED CONFISCATIONS. HEARING OF GRIEVANCES. (Peb United Pbbss Association.) NEW PLYMOUTH, February 11. An investigation of the Maori grievances concerning the confiscation of lands in the North Island after the war of 67 years ago was commenced by a special commission in Waitara yesterday. Mr Justice Sim is chairman, and associated with him are the Hon. V. H. Reed, M.L.C., and Mr William Cooper (Gisborne). Thirteen petitions are to be heard in Taranaki, and it is expected the sitting here will occupy nearly a fortnight, after which the commissioners will leave for Wellington, preparatory to visiting other districts to hear 43 claims lodged from the Bay of Plenty, Hawke’s Bay, Arawa, and Tauranga districts, Waikato, r.nd North Auckland. The whole of the day was occupied by an unfinished address by Mr E. D. Smith, of Wellington, who, with Mr G. A. Nicholls, is appearing for the petitioners. He traversed the provisions of Tie Treaty of Waitangi, and maintained that under them the Maoris had indisputable and recognised rights to the possession of the land which could only be obtained by Europeans by “fair and equa( contracts with the Native owners, “These rights had not been honoured by Governor (lore Brown when purchasing Waitara. That transaction was described as the Sarajevo of the Maori war. Prominent politicians and officials of the day vme severely criticised by Mr Smith, who said that, after the establishment of the colonial Ministry in ISS'I, the treaty obligations went unfulfilled. • Mr Smith cited a large number of reports of proceedings in New Zealand courts and the Privy Council since 18 <S to show the terms of the treaty were not considered binding by the Europeans. Letters by Earl Grey stated emphatically that all the rights of the Natives under the treaty must bo scrupulously and religiously observed. The chiefs Had signed t!ie treatv because the second section gave them “full, exclusive, and undisturbed possession of their lands, estates, foiest, and fisheries. The right of pre-emption was reserved to the Crown, but that could not affect the position of, tllo . Natives. Mr C. H. Taylor, with Mr R. 1 • Dykes, is appearing for the Crown. Both are from the Crown Law Office.