MAORI CLAIMS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19100, 22 August 1936, Page 5

MAORI CLAIMS

ANCIENT LAND LOSSES A PERENNIAL PROBLEM i ■ GOVERNMENT'S ATTITUDE ONE FINAL SETTLEMENT (PaTliamentary Reporter.) •WELLINGTON, this day. The perennial pnb.icrt of Maori claims in respect to ancient land purchases and "confiscated' lands was discussed in the House of Representatives yesterday, when the .Native Department estimates were being passed. When reminded that the Maoris still -waited 'for *a final settlement of their claims in respect to Waikato, Taranaki, and South Island lands, the Prime Minister, the Kt. Hon. M. J. Savage, who holds the portfolio oi Native'" Affairs, declared that it seemed necessary to have some tribunal -which -would consider, not any specific claim, hut the whole position. - He knew that commissions had reported in the past, but the position Had changed, and to-day they might be ablero <\o better than some of their inbst' feriowned predecessors, though, he admitted after hearing some laughter, ' that he must not he overoptimistic. "I must say that the settlement of Maori claims has caused me a good deal of worry," added the Prime lluiister. i Mr. S. G. Smith (Nat., New Plymouth): The Taranaki Maoris are supposed to get £oooo a year. . "The Prime Minister: And they are not satisfied. He suggested that it would be good to get down to some real idea of values and the total amount necessary to clear up the claims for ever, and not keep paying £oooo a year, with the original claim remaining and the evil day put off. ANOTHER COMMISSION ? - The Leader of the Opposition, the iRt. Hon. G.. W. Forbes: Not another commission? "Oh, I don't mind commissions when we . want to establish some claim." replied the Prime Minister. "We'do not want to be the judge in oar own case, but there is no justification for setting tip commissions to find a policy for the Government.'' Mr. Forbes, the previous holder of the native portfplio, reminded the House that separate commissions had reported on the Taranaki, Waikato, and South Island land claims, but the trouble was' that it was difficult to arrive at finality. In the case of the Taranaki claim, l the commission awarded £SOOO a year. This was voted annually until the depression, when one vote was reduced to £2OOO, and the natives, were complaining that they were underpaid, though the Treasury contended that the annual vote was always subject to revision. Then there were suggestions that £IO,OOO per annum should be paid in final settlerrierit in respect to "other claims, but he had Teached tie same conclusion as his successor, ' that it would be better to make a final payment instead of an annual grant, for he had pointed out to the natives that there was a danger of annual votes •being reduced. FINALITY IMPOSSIBLE : The South Island claim, with compound interest added, now came to £350,000, instead of £90,000, and objection was taken to this, commission by |he Treasury, on the ground that it had not included any representative' of the Government's financial side. Even if these, claims were settled, the Leader of the Opposition predicted that others would afterwards crop up.

Another former Native Minister, the Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates, suggested, with his knowledge of" Maori psychology, that no claim would ever be regarded by the Maori as a final .settlement, and it would be. useless trying to get a clean and final receipt, even if a. large lump-sum payment were "made. In connection with the Waikato claim, a commission suggested £3OOO, and a former Government offered £SOOO, which it thought a fair thing, but the Maoris wanted £IO,OOO, and the older ones iwanted their lands back. He had tried to get the South Island claim settled for £IOO,OOO, which he thought fair.. Would any new tribunal,' he asked, secure any fresh facts? However, if the Maoris wanted another investigation, Parliament should not stand in their way, though he warned members that it would be impossible to devise any method of quick settlement. They should decide what they considered was a fair thing and pay it, though the Maori would not regard this as final, and nobody should worry about getting a clean receipt.