AN IMPORTANT PROBLEM

Southland Times, Issue 19202, 13 November 1903, Page 2

AN IMPORTANT PROBLEM

Sir Ilerries said lie would not oppose the 1011, hut he feared the result of the working of tho principle of tho measure It was making one law for the Maori and another for the European and he doubted if that would weld the two races together. Would it not ruther push them apurt 9 Reading between the lines of Mr Curroll's speech ho was afraid that the Minister looked upon the race us doomed.— Mr Moss did not think we should continue a policy of encouraging the isolation of the Maori. We also" encouraged them not to do any more work than possible. Work was necessary for white people : much more so for the Maori The Government said : "Do not sell your land to thieving Europeans for 1,2 per acre. We will give you £3." Native races died out after conquest because they were made to fool that they were of no use und had no part to play in the affairs -of the couptrv.— Mr A: L. U. traser also disapproved of the methods adopted by the Government in connection with native matters. The Native Minister told them of the frightful orgies at tangis and meetings, b>u the Government encouraged those large gatherings, giving special railway facilities and there wero worse offences — moral offences — than drink at these Meetings. We should have one Inw for both races and bring the natives into our own lives and affairs. There u u .s only one medical man for •lO.tXKI natives, twelve months ago he wired for medical attendance to the Nntivo Minister, auylng tun', iv his district there wae a, disease which meant

extermination and which was horriblfl to contemplate. No medical assistance had ever been 6ent Mr .Parata said that if the Government had carried out all its promises to the natives there would be no need for this bill. The evils in the South were not ,so prominent. Tho natives there were more industrious and sober than In the North.— ln reply, Mr Carroll agreed that ono law for both races teas tho Ideal aim. but before that goal could > reached the conditions must be made the same. The Maori was not the product of centuries of civilisation ; seventy years ago he was in his full condition of savagery, and now he could not bo expected to be jpn the same level as Europeans. Their duty was to lay down the lines by which the goal could be attained. The Maori could not be dragged ruthlessly into the glare of civilisation ; it must be done by stages. They should build up the home life of the Maori.— The committal of the bill was then agreed to. MAORI LAND LAWS. ITon .T. Carroll moved the committal of the Maori Lands Laws Amendment Bill He said this was a difficult and contentious question. Fast legislation had not been 'quite satisfactory. In 1900 the Government inaugurated the new policy of dividing the colony into seven council districts, but since then there had been a wide difference of opinion owing t<> the 1 variety of interests affected. In regard to timber* rights the Native Affairs Committee came to tho conclusion that it would not be Just to ' pass retroactive legislation affecting existing rights and contracts. — Mr Massey contended that the Land for Settlements Act should bo applied to native lands, suggesting that the revenue derived Lnerefrom should be lodged with the Public Trustee and invested for the owners.. To improve the natives they should be treated as men, not as children.— Mr Heke urged that the remnants of their land were no more than sufficient for the maintenance of the Maoris and their descendants, but this bill admitted the further acquisition of Maori land by private individuals. The natives held their land in common, and in small areas, and It would be detrimental to apply tho Lands for Settlements Act. The best plan would be to encourage the natives to improve their lands.— The Premier said he did not admire the disposition existing to give away timber rights to syndicates. The construction of the North Trunk line was not intended to be taken advantage of for enriching syndicates! by contravention and evasion of tho law. — Mr Kaihau oppose*! the bill, and said the land in the possession of the Maoris was getting less every year. He moved that the bill be committed that day 12 months— On a division this was lost by 29 to 8, and the debate was continuing when the Telegraph Olice closed..