NATIVE RACE

Southland Times, Issue 20794, 7 June 1929, Page 8

NATIVE RACE

LOCAL QUESTIONS

VISIT OF SIR APIRANA NGATA

IMPORTANT SUBJECTS DISCUSSED

Matters of vital importance to almost every Maori in the South Island were discussed yesterday afternoon when a representative gathering of local and Bluff Maoris met Sir Apirana Ngata (Minister of Native Affairs), Chief Judge Jones of the Native Land Court and Under-Secretary of Native Affairs, and Mr Tuiti Makitanara (M.P. for Southern Maoris). Mr H. R. H. Bellneavis (private secretary to the Native Minister), Mr D. Erihana, representing North Island Natives in investigating general conditions and farming culture, and Mr A. Wixon, acting in a sindlar capacity for the South Island Maoris were also members of the party.

The principal reason of the Minister’s visit was to deal with the Ngaitahu claim, which involves a sum of £354,000, recommended by the Royal Commission of 1920. Under the provision of the Native Land Amendment Act, passed during last session, it was authorized that a board be set up to administer any amounts of compensation that might be granted by the Government. The board, it had been decided, at Tuahiwi, Kaiapoi, last Tuesday, was to consist of eight members to represent the whole island and the province of Southland was entitled to elect one member., A primary purpose of the Minister's visit was, therefore, to have this member selected. Mr Makitanara, on behalf of the Southern Maoris, extended a welcome to those present. He was pleased to see the Hon. Mr Ngata and Mr Jones were there to hear what the Southern Maoris required. In response, Judge Jones and Sir Apirana Ngata spoke in Maori, expressing pleasure at being present and interest in the southern Maoris’ troubles.

Continuing in English, Sir A. Ngata said he was glad to see representatives of the Murihiku Progress League present; until now, the personal touch had been perhaps rather lacking because he had not known exactly who was the secretary and the secretary had not known who he was. From now on, however, he hoped that a better understanding would exist. He had been told there, were some two or three dozen Maoris in the district carrying on farming, not on their ancestral lands it was true, but on leased lands. He would like the secretary of the league to send him full data on that point. He was'afraid that the problem was as near solution as it would ever be, but he hoped that every assistance would be given towards making an attempt to straighten things out if possible. Beyond the fact that they in Wellington would do everything they could towards that end, he could promise nothing. The organization of the younger people into similar bodies as the Progress League would produce many beneficial results. “Many of my youthful hopes I have had to abandon” he continued. “But there is one to which I shall always cling and that is to sec all the old questions solved or abandoned. They are only arresting the progress of the younger generation. I don’t want to see the young Maoris still engaged over the Ngataihu claims. Fortunately the pakeha of to-day realizes how inconsiderately the Maori was treated in the past and he now gives to the Maori, the sympathy he is entitled to receive.” Dealing with the question of the South Island landless Maori lands, the Minister said that while the Government had always looked favourably on representations from landless natives in the South Island, it had never given the freedom of tenure by which the beneficiaries could obtain the most advantage. As it was, there were very few who had obtained much benefits from the lands granted them; the North Island could ghe the South Island landless natives 1,000,000 acres of the type of land granted to them without suffering any disadvantage. His advice was to get rid of the “Landless Native” lands that were unsuitable before the rates made them into liabilities. He found that the Ngaitahu claim was of the type that looked the worse the closer one investigated it. It was disastrous to waste money disputing among themselves over the settlement, of that claim. Speaking of education, the Minister advised’all parents who could to send their boys and girls to the Maori colleges after leaving school. Boys thus trained would be helped towards attaining all the qualifications' necessary for leadership of their people. Mr T. Bragg, of Stewart. Island, apologized for the absence of some of those who had wished to be present. Conflicting telegrams sent out had confused them. Supporting the Minister’s contention, he said the reserved block of 10,000 acres at Lord’s River was worth nothing, but he had been assured the block near Tuatapere was good. Mr A. Wixon endorsed the Minister’s remarks regarding the mistake of bickering over ownership of land. He instanced the case of some returned Maori soldiers who had been forced to go to the Repatriation Department for land and were given some about two miles from the landless natives’ block simply because of family disputes.

Mr T. Spencer, of Bluff, then introduced to the attention of the Minister several remits from the Bluff Committee. The first remit dealt with the Mutton Bird Islands and asked that the jurisdiction over them be transferred from the Commissioner of Crown Lands to the Maori Land Court. Introducing it, Mr Spencer said that similar rights should be extended to natives over those islands as to other native lands. In reply to questions from the Minister, he said the Commissioner of Crown Lands granted permits only to those gazetted as the beneficiary owners. It was considered by his committee that the families of those gazetted persons should have equal rights as the heads of the families. He did not suggest the Maori Land Board should go into the question of ownership, but only of the rights of families. No one had actually been refused the right of going to the island, but some had been disputed. Mr Wixon explained that the question was not one of sub-division of the islands, but the general inconvenience of the present system whereby Maoris were allowed to visit the islands only in the season. As a consequence, the small boats were so overloaded with their annual trips that it was impossible to take over much material for house-building. If they were given, full rights to the land, under the jurisdiction of the Maori Land Court, they would be able to visit them at other times of the year and make building arrangements. It had taken him eight years to get over material for a home.

In reply, Sir Apirana Ngata said he had taken note of the representations made, but he was rather dubious about the whole question. The next remit was that grants should be made from the Hokonui Endowment for schoolbooks, heating and lighting in Maori schools, and also for grants towards the secondary education of children who had passed their proficiency.

The Minister said the endowment was administered by a Native trustee, but he would be glad if definite particulars on the matters mentioned were given to him. The question of European or Maori franchise was the subject of the next remit. Mr Wixon said that there was much dissatisfaction among natives because many in Murihiku had no right to vote for the Maori representative, but had to vote on the European franchise because their caste was too low.

The Minister expressed the opinion that it would be better to leave the matter as it stood. A native voting in the European election could always get the ear of his member, while at the same time his suggestions would be welcome to the Maori member with whom he naturally came in contact.

In reply to further remits, the Minister said he was certainly in favour of a revival

of the Maori language in conjunction with English and at present the Ethnological Board was discussing the question of ways and means. He was also in favour of Maoris participating in the liquor referendum. The final business done was the nomination of Mr T. Bragg, of Stewart Island, as a member of the Ngaitahu Claim Board. The nominations of Messrs Thomas Spencer and William Haberfield ■were withdrawn.

After the meeting the party travelled to Colac Bay, where matters were dealt with in connection with the Mutton Bird Islands, landless lands, reserves, educational matters and hospital and medical attention. The matters involved the proposals of the Ngaitahu tribe settled in the district around Colac Bay. At 7.30 p.m. the party proceeded from Colac to Tuatapere to inspect the landless native lands. The party departs to-day by the 1.45 express for Dunedin. To-morrow the party will return to Wellington, where reports will be drawn up in detail before the opening of Parliament*