MAORIS AND THE LAND

Taranaki Daily News, 17 June 1933, Page 13 (Supplement)

MAORIS AND THE LAND

A LONG ARGUMENT OPENS

(By T.C.L.) Two arguments from the Maori point of view were placed before Mr. Commissioner Spain and his colleagues at New Plymouth 80 years ago this month. The first contention was that the lands comprising the Taranaki settlement had been “sold” to the New Zealand company by Maoris who were not the real owners of the land. The second was that the payment for the lands in question had been insufficient.'

In regard to the first contention the position was that after the last disastrous encounter with the Waikato tribes many of the Taranaki Maori chiefs with the remnant of their warriors had left theirs ancestral lands.’ Some of them had been taken into captivity by the Waikatos, others had gone to Kapiti and Waikanae where they had lived under the protection of the great fighting chief Te Rauparaha. Largely through the efforts of the missionaries, the Waikato chiefs allowed their prisoners of war to return to their own country. But when they reached Taranaki the British settlement had been established, and some of the lands of the Taranaki tribes disposed of to the pakeha. The Maoris who returned from Waikato were joined by others who preferred their own countryside with all its perils to residence as subordinate tribes in Te Rauparaha’s sphere of influence. They also found their lands disposed of, and the pakeha in possession. Both returning parties contended that the Maoris who sold the lands to the company were but the remnants of the dispersed tribes who were occupying the tribal lands on sufferance while the real owners, the chiefs and fighting men, were in captivity or exile. The Company on the other hand maintained that it had bought the lands in good faith from the only people who were in occupation, and that the Maori claim that insufficient had been paid for the land was also unsound. Considering that the Taranaki nat’ves were unable to use the lands, that they lived in constant fear of , further attacks by the northern tribes, and the consideration given and accepted in other parts of New Zealand for the purchase and sale of land the Company maintained it had treated the Maoris in Taranaki with fairness. It has to be remembered that the purport of the Treaty of Waitangi was gradually being assimilated by the Maoris throughout New Zealand. One far-seeing chief in North Auckland, when he signed the treaty, said. that it gave the “Queen the shadow of authority while the substance—the land—remained with the Maori.” That view of the treaty was taken by the missionaries also, and they spared no effort in bringing home that conviction among the tribes within their influence. The Maori saw, too, that the tide of emigration had set towards New Zealand. The wiser of the chiefs saw also that to. try to prevent the white man’s domination was to risk annihilation, and the missionaries continued to counsel peace and belief in the uprightness of the British Government and its servants. Add to this diametrically opposed views of the missionaries and the New Zealand Company upon nearly every question in which the interests of the Maori seemed likely to rival those of the pakeha, and it can be seen how the natural astuteness of the Maori would see the wisdom of following the missionary’s advice and of presenting his case to the British authorities.

The very appointment of Mr. Commissioner Spain was, in the eyes of the Maori, proof that the Sovereign had authority, and they approached him at New Plymouth with some hope of obtaining redress. This is not the place to argue whether the Maori or the pakeha was in the right. Mr. Spain, who had the advantage of hearing both sides, thought there was something to be said for both parties. He reduced the Company’s claim to 60,000 acres, less certain native reserves, and ordered it to pay an additional £2OO to the Maoris for the lands awarded. Mr. Spain evidently considered that but .for the presence of the Europeans many of the Taranaki Maoris would not have returned to their former holdings for fear of further raids by the Waikatos, and made his award accordingly. It caused a great stir. The award was given on June 8, 1844, and the same day a protest was drawn up by the Maoris and forwarded to Governor Fitzroy •at Auckland. The protest was partially supported by the missionaries, and warnings were given to the authorities, that the Taranaki Maoris might try forcibly to eject the pakeha from the lands they claimed were tribal. Governor Fitzroy immediately despatched Mr. Donald McLean with instructions to pacify the Maoris by every means in his power. Bishop Selwyn and the Rev. John Whiteley, then missionary at Kawhia, also hurried to New Plymouth. Opinions upon the controversy are very difficult to reconcile. Some of the missionaries’ letters make it plain that while they were determined to see the Maori had a fair deal they recognised that some of his claims were preposterous, that the Waikatos’ claims to Taranaki lands by right of conquest were almost as tenable as some made by the defeated Taranaki Maoris and they counselled great caution on the part of the Governor and his advisers. Others again could see little but spoliation of the natives by the pakeha. landseekers, and a real fear of a Maori uprising to drive the strangers off their lands.

Early in August the Governor himself arrived and told the natives he would not confirm Commissioner Spain's award. He declared the whole settlement forfeited, but induced the Maoris to accept £350 in goods, money and animals as complete payment for a block of land in and around New Plymouth containing about 3500 acres. . The Governor’s decision was a stunning blow to the settlement and to the Company. . It was modified a good deal subsequently, but no definite settlement was made,. and the land question remained as potential a source of danger as ever.

For the Resident Agent, Mr. Wicksteed, the land difficulty was not the only trouble. Three months after Mr. Spain’s arrival, and before Governor Fitzroy’s decision was made known, the Resident Agent was advised that the Company was forced by lack of means to suspend all operations in New Plymouth. In November the Governor's decision was made known, and the settlement was set the task of accommodating itself to the new conditions. They had one redeeming feature. Holders of the lands awarded to the Company by the Governor were assured of sound titles, and for them at least the period of uncertain tenure was over. But it was a gloomy and uncertain spring-time in New Plymouth 90 years ago.