LANDLESS NATIVES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3100, 13 August 1913, Page 3

LANDLESS NATIVES.

PROVISION FOR SOUTHERN MAORIS.

(From Our Own Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, August 5.

An interesting statement as to the Government’s policy in regard to making provision for landless Natives in the South Island was made by the Minister of Native Affairs in the House to-day. The question was raised by the report of the Native Affairs Committee on a petition asking that a certain block of 1700 acres in the South Island should be reserved for certain landless Natives in terms of Judga Fenton’s award in 1868. 'The decision of the committee was commended by Mr C. Parata and Mr Ngata, both of whom were satisfied to learn that, as they said, a measure of tardy justice was at last to be done to the South Island Natives. Mr Ngata said that near the seat of the Maori wars the rights of the Natives were recognised, and the future of the Maoris was provided for. In the South Island, distant from the stress of the war, the rights of the Natives had been overlooked. The Horn W. H. Herries said that Judge Fenton’s award seemed to have slumbered in bis minute-book for years and years, and the Lands Department had known nothing about it. It was impossible to say now what actuated the Native Department in 1868, but undoubtedly the Native Department should have advised the Lond| Department to set aside this land not for the general use of the South Island Natives, but for certain individuals named in the award. The ultimate reservation of the land, not for the individuals but for landless Natives generally, had been made by the Hon. Mr Cadman when be was Minister of Native Affairs, but not on account of Judge Fenton’s award. Generally speaking. "he did not think that adequate provision had been made for the Natives in the South Island. It seemed to him rather that, the manner in which landless Natives had been provided for was farcical. To give a man two acres of land in the middle of a dense bush was reminiscent of Gilbert and Sullivan. He hoped either to have the whole question of providing for Natives in the South Island investigated by a Royal Commission or tn bring down legislation to deal with it. Ho agreed with the committee that the original award of Judge Fenton should bo carried out, and he would ask the Min’ster of Lands to settle on the Natives either land in the block mentioned or, if that were impossible, land of similar value elsewhere.

Mr Russell : Whv not open up the whole question of the claims of landless Natives in the South Island ? ( Mr Hcrries : The hnn. gentleman can do that if he likes to bring in a Bill. Ha added that he had just declared what ha proposed to do in regard to the general question.