THE SOUTHERN MAORIS

Southland Times, Issue 19276, 21 June 1924, Page 2

THE SOUTHERN MAORIS

PROGRESSIVE LEAGUE FORMED. A meeting of the Southern Maoris was held on Thursday at the Maori meeting house at the Bluff to consider the question of forming a Progressive League There was a very fair attendance, considering the unfavourable climatic conditions. Mr J. Wixon was elected to the chair. Hon. John Topi Patuki said that under the Treaty of Sydney their forbears had given a solemn undertaking to remain loyal to England and loyal to the people who had come out in tile King’s name to govern them. They had proved their loyalty by refraining from anything that would cause friction to the Government in power. This was the first attempt to organise a movement to do some good for the benefit of their people. Touching first on the Mutton Bird Islands. Mr Topi said that they had worked the islands individually, with varying results, good in some cases and not so good in others, and he thought if they were united they would do much better. Then there was the question of Native land areas, and in this question he thought there was a great need for a combined body to stop individual sellers of land, for the reason 1 that these lands were a heritage of the i race, and at the present time they held the i key to the bush of New Zealand. If they i kept on selling these bush areas individually, i they would become in a gradually worse j position as the years wore on. A League i to hold them together on these lands and ! prepare homes for the future generations ; would bind together the Maori race in these ■ southern lands. He foreshadowed the run- | ning of their own sawmills, and in other ( ways combining for the co-operative development of their lands and euterprises. In supporting Mr Topi’s remarks, and asking tor a full discussion on all points I of the proposal, the chairman said that through generations they had been indi- ] viduahsts, as opposed to the combination of ! the pakehas, and combination would beat i individualism every time. The oldest member of the race in the i room, Mi- William Spencer, moved that : a Progressive League be formed. In declaring the motion carried unan- ! imously, the chairman suggested that ' branches be formed in the different Maori centres. Mr E. Stevens (Riverton) agreed to undertake this work in his district. The election of office-bearers resulted as follows: —President Mr J. Wixon, secretary, Mr A. Wixon; Committee, Messrs W. Spencer, E. Stevens, Kaitai Pehe, R. Whatiri, T. Spencer and Mesdames Sherrett aad King, (with power to add to their number). The nomination of Mr T. Bragg (Halfmoon Bay), who was not present, was noted. The question of the mutton-bird industry was next discussed. Mr A, Wixon said that having regard to the industry at the present time, he could see nothing before it but chat tho industry would soon become defunct. He said that the birds were badly handled when placed on shipboard for export, and inevitably this had a serious offect on prices. They must aim at the stabilisation of prices and the standardisation of the quality of their goods. In the present .ack of some form of co-operative control, firms were binding sellers over through their goods to keep prices down. Mr J. Wixon said that barring a little work in the country, this was the only industry they had. The position was fast becoming such that it was a question whether they should go to the Islands or stay at home. For his own family of six, it had cost them £2OO before they left the Bluff wharf, in food, equipment, and passage. Various points in connection with the handling, marketing, and distributon of the birds were discussed and noted for further consideration by the Executive Committee. The question of fishing reserves was next touched on; also timbered lands, on which Mr Topi suggested they should establish their own sawmills. Mr J. Wixon said there were 77,000 acres in all, which he considered was capable of carrying ten sawmills, which would not only facilitate them securing the full benefits, but would provide employment for their members. Valuing these lands at the low estimate of £2 10/- per acre, this meant a capital value of £192,000. If these lands were left in idleness, it was quite open for the Government to resume occupation of them. He advocated the formation of a syndicate to develop these areas as a tim-ber-producing unit. This matter, too, was referred to the Committee for further consideration. The meeting closed with the customary compliment to the chair.