MR URU'S CANDIDATURE.

Colonist, Volume LI, Issue 12411, 28 November 1908, Page 3

MR URU'S CANDIDATURE.

Mr W. Uru, a candidate tor the seat, has been addressing meetings in this district during tbe last throe weeks, | speaking at Motueba, Tnkaka and the Uroixelles. At the Croixelles me'eting yesterday, Mr Uruhad . a good audience, and spoke for übout two hours He replied at some length to statements contained in Mr Para ta 's Kaikoura address, con tending ',that while credit was due to Mr Farßta for 'obfeaining'land for the landless Maori, it took him 21 years to do it, and they were not yet certain that the land belonged to them. He denied that tiu> Youog Maori Party, to which he belonged, . was desirous of doing j*way with the Maori ineHabsrs. xz the congress of the Party held in Wellington during the winter, the feeling of the Maoris was taken on the question, and all except three of the delegates spoke against the proposal. Mr Uru also dealt with defects in the native land leasing laws, pointing out that where a European could get a lease arranged aud perfect in two or three hours, a native could not get an agreement legally made for four znoatbsj tbus greatly reduciog tbe value of tbe lease, lie pointeri.out that before the Advances to Settlers office would lead money to the Maori, ne must lease his land, and the lessee must guarantee payment, of the rent, lie held that undar these circumstances the money advanced was no use to the owner.of the land.* He said that the young people had allowed the older Maoris had to do everything for them for sixty or seventy yearsjthay* were no better off -now tQan they, we're then, and he pleaded that it was now time they allowed the young Maoris to do what they could to better therace. Mr Uru also referred to the, disabilities of Maori electors, and contended that: the Maoris should have a vote on the local option question. At the close of the address, Mr Hipolite urged Mr Uru's fitness for the position he was seeking, saying it was time they had~ar;onange in the representation.- Mr Uru leaves for Picton to-day, speaking at Spring Oroek.en route, aud at' Picton on Tuesday night.— Communicated. -