THE NATIVE BILL.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XVIII, Issue 6144, 17 August 1891, Page 2

THE NATIVE BILL.

INTERVIEW WITH MINISTERS. [from our own correspondent.] Wellington, Friday. About 30 Natives, who claimed to be representative of all the Maoris of the North Island, interviewed the Hon. Mr ■ Cadraan, Native Minister, and the Premier this morning. Majop Kemp asked that the Native Land Bill- should be postponed till next sessioo so that they might have~anopportunity of going thoroughly, through'-yifr. The Bill affected the Natives so greatly that they felfe entitled to the granting of their request. He did not wish td oppose the r.ill in any way. —Four other Natives .' J supported M.ijor Kemp's request, one saying he was a delegate from the Waira* rapa, where they had discussed the Bill . : for two days and come to the same' opinion as the chiefs in Wellington thafc the Bill should be delayed for considers- ". tion. It was suggested that during the recess a large meeting of Natives be called at some central spot and there let the Bill be discussed. Mr Cad man asked if all present were agreed with the opinion expressed, and all replied "Ac." He asked if they considered they fairly represented all the Natives of the North Island, and Majoi Kemp said they did. He asked if they were satisfied with the present law. " Kahauri " came from all round. Kemp said none of the laws since the Treaty ef Waitangi had been satisfactory. They had all been made by Europeans in their own, interests. <l Are the Natives agreed with the recommendations of the Native Landv Laws Commission ?" asked the Minister. Major Kemp replied that they hadn'fe been able to study the report. Past laws had ; been most oppressive to the Native race. "Considering all the Bills hate been a - failure, the Natives met year after year ; have they formulated suggestions of their* own ?" asked Mr Cad man. " Yes, afc Putiki years ago," was the reply of Major Kemp, and it waa explained that, they then drafted a Bill. . ' The Native Minister said one chief who had spoken had asked that Government! should pledge to stop purchases in the Taupo district. If the Bill was not passed and the present law remained he could give no pledge not to go on as usual. But he intended to make some alterations in'; the working of the Courts in order to . cheapen the expense both to Europeans and Natives. These reforms would take place whether the Bill were passed or nob. On the strength of what they toll me that they fairly represent the Natives of the North Island, I say I think the Natives should be considered, but I cannot promise anything definitely in any shape or form to drop the Bill. I will report this meeting to Cabinet, who will , consider the matter, and I may Bay this, ; Cabinet will have to consider, the other ; side of the question as well as theirs. There is a strong feeling that something must be done in Native matters. My own personal opinion is that the Bill should come forward in the House and be freely discussed. ._«•'. Wi Pere said Governments should repeal all existing land laws, and no new Acts should be brought in, and then Native Committees should deal with the land. He proceeded to criticise the Bill, and remarked that all the powers in this Bill would be conferred on Mr Lewis. Government should authorise the Natives to. draw up a Bill satisfactory to the Native race. . '• . The Premier : I am very glad to meet some of my old friondSj and of course the Native Minister and myself are glad to hear their views on Native land legislation. The difficulty is to get the minds ©f the Natives in various parts of the colony focussed on soma useful legislation. As they are aware, I took great pains to go Around to the pahs and discussed the y principles of the Native Land Administration Bill with them, and resolutions were passed approving of the principles of thafe Bill. I discussed them with Major Kemp •' and Wi Pere, and with nearly all the chiefs of the Island. , Well, we ibiife-that Bill on the statute book, and in that Bill great power was given to Committees. The action of the Courts was simplified, andL we went back as nearly as possible to the Treaty of "Waitangi, until wo gave the Natives larger power in dealing with their own lands. What happened ? As soon as , that Bill became law the Native people turned against it. I was told it was done by Native agents and Pakeha Maoris, whose occupation would have been gone. They turned against ifc before it was ever triad. I mention this to show the difficulty the Minister has in getting the Natives to agrse to any Bill. They asked for delay with me and I save them a year, and then when I brought, down my Bill and put ib upon the statute book, even then they were not satisfled. If we put their own law on the statute book they would turn against thafe. A great many say they want- the Treaty of Waitangi. Well, now, would jyou be satisfied if we returned to that? [Major Kemp : The people in our district would. The Queen would look after our interests.] The Queen would have to do ib through her, -.-, officers, and only the Crown could pur-' chase. There is another ray of sunshine ' which affects the Native people. The, ; Native Minister has drafted an Act which I desire to bring before them. The Minister has set; aside land in various parts of the colony, and will do so in future, for ! the Native people. Some of i(j will be ■ Crown land, and the object is to. place each family on its own piece. The renti ' will only be nominal, and thafe land will rest with the people for ever. They need nob naeeasarily pay their rents, but ib mny ■« be taken out in improvements. No Native will be allowed to starve in this colony. . They musfe all feel thafe they are indebted to the Native Minister for thinking of them in that way. Ifc is also proposed to repeal th« Native stamp dafcy. I mention these things to sbov Gorercuiseub haven'fc oegfoeted the interests of the Native people. The lateifview then terminated. C. Poison, fisherman, of Peiorus Sound, was on Friday out pig hunting in Pig Bay, in company with the captain of theechooner Alert, when the tetter's gun went off acci- J dentally, hitting and shattering Poison's shoulder. He was at once removed for surgical aid, and is doing as well as can be expected^ ; '