A MAORI GRIEVANCE.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIV, Issue 48, 21 October 1912, Page 6

A MAORI GRIEVANCE.

THE NGATARI; TRIBE. (For Press Association.) Wellington, October 21. The long-standing grievance on the part of tno Ngataru tribe of South island natives was discussed by a deputation which waited mi the Premier to-day. In iB-1.0 Hie Government acquired 7,0(10,000 acres of tribal lands extending from Kaiapoi vo the Otago Heads, the understanding being that a deposit of £'2ooo should be paid, and that one acre in every ten should be reserved for the use of the Maori settlers. The Maoris received the £2OOO, but-they never got the one acre in ten. in addition the Government took 13,000’,000 acres further inland belonging to the same tribe, for which nothing was paid, but in regard to which the -Maoris understood that the principle of giving the Maoris one acre in ton was to lie extended. The natives claim that under the terms of cession of their lands they were entitled to be provided with schools, hospitals, and medical attendance. They further ask that the terms of agreement should be carried out, that they should receive for their own use one-tenth of the 20,000,000 acres acquired, or an equivalent, which they assessed at £2,000,000. Mr Massey said ho proposed during the recess to go fully into all the questions, and be hoped to arrive at some satisfactory conclusion.