RIGHTS OF THE MAORIS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIX, Issue 84, 30 July 1914, Page 6

RIGHTS OF THE MAORIS.

INTERESTING FISHERIES DISPUTE. • [Pee Press Association.] Wellington, July 30. The Full Court, in the case of Waipapakura v. Hempton, decided on an , interesting question us to the rights of Maoris to fish in tidal waters. The Court hejd that even if the Treaty of Waitangi intended to give the unrestricted right to fish in sea or in tidal waters to the Maoris, there being no statute giving such right, the Court coijld not recognise it, and the Maoris were, therefore, hound by the provisions of the Fisheries Act, 1908, and the regulations' made thereunder. The case in the Magistrate’s Court was for the retufn of nets seized by Customs officers, and in which the Magistrate held he could not inquire as to whether the present appellant and the Maori had an unrestricted right to fish, arid non-suited appellant. The Court upheld the nonsuit, but held that -the reason given by the Magistrate was wrong, upholding the nonsuit on the ground that the Maori was subject to the ‘ Fisheries Act, 1908. By arrangement, the Crown pays the cost of the appeal.