The Waka Maori. WELLINGTON, TUESDAY, AUGUST 11, 1874. THE PARLIAMENT.

Waka Maori, Volume 10, Issue 16, 11 August 1874, Page 194

The Waka Maori. WELLINGTON, TUESDAY, AUGUST 11, 1874. THE PARLIAMENT.

Wednesday, 15th JULY, 1874. Mr. Katene moved, "That a Select Committee, to consist of fourteen members, be appointed to consider all petitions, reports, returns, and other documents, relating to affairs specially affecting the Native race, that may be brought before the House this session, and from time to time to report thereon to the House ; with power to call for persons and papers; three to be a quorum. The Committee to consist of Mr. Speaker, Mr. McLean, Major Atkinson, Mr. Bunny, Mr. Carrington, Mr. Pox, Major Jackson, Mr. W. Kelly, Mr. "Williams, Mr. Parata, Mr. Takamoana, Mr. "Williamson, Mr. Taiaroa, and the Mover." Mr. Mebvyn" thought it was undesirable that the Committee should consist almost exclusively of North Island members, and that it would be advisable to place upon the Committee some members representing Southern constituencies, as there were some questions in which the South was interested which might be relegated to this Committee. Sir J. C. Wilson, C.8., said there was a feature in the motion which was highly objectionable—the proposal that three should constitute a quorum. There were four members of the Maori race on the Committee, and it seemed to him improper that three should be a quorum. Mr. C. Parker did not think it was wise that members of Committees should be chosen from one part of the colony only on questions of this kind, which certainly affected the whole of the colony. Mr. Katene had no objection whatever to increase the number by adding members from the Middle Island, and would also ask leave to amend the motion by substituting five for three as a quorum. Leave granted, and motion as amended agreed to. Thursday, 16th July. Mr. Sheehan asked, Whether the Government had received from the Native Lands Court Judges any report upon the provisions and effect of working " The Native Lands Act, 1873 and, if so, whether they would lay such report upon the table ? Mr. Vogel, in reply, said the Government had received a large number of remarks and criticisms upon the existing Act from the various Judges of the Native Lands Court, but they did not propose to lay the papers on the table. They had, however, taken advantage of the information afforded, and were preparing a Bill, which would shortly be submitted to the House. Wednesday, 22nd July. Mr. Taiaroa moved " That any report which may have been received by the Government from Mr. Alexander Mackay on the subject of the subdivision of Native reserves in the southern portion of the Middle Island, or any new allotment of land for Natives in that district, be laid upon the table." He said great trouble had been caused among the Natives in consequence of the division of land made

by Mr. Mackay in the Middle Island. He, as well as other members, wished to see the report, for the purpose of ascertaining what awards had been made. Mr. Vogel said the report had not yet been seen by the Native Minister, who was expected to arrive in Wellington in the course of next week. He would ask the House to consent to the adjournment of the debate. Debate adjourned.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Tuesday, 2Stie July. The Hon. Mr. Gr. B. Johnson moved, " That, in the opinion of this Council, it is desirable that a register of the births of Maori children should be kept, and that the necessary steps should at once be taken to carry out this object." He thought there were many reasons which would recommend this course. For instance, it might have a good eftect in cultivating the IVTaoris. At present, he believed, it was generally known that Maori women were not too careful of their children, and, in many instances, were not all willing to rear them. He thought if the suggestions contained in this resolution were carried out, it would have the effect of making the Maori women more careful. Again, it might assist in making up a more correct Census of the Maori population, and enable them to come to some conclusion as to whether or not the opinion that the numbers of the Maori were diminishing was correct. However, there was another reason in favour of his motion, to which he attached greater weight than to the others he had mentioned. They knew that many cases had occured in which deeds of lease, or sale of land had proved to be valueless, in consequence of the Maori who signed the deed being supposed to be under the age of twenty-one. He said " supposed " because, _ in fact, there was nothing but supposition and conjecture to go upon in these matters. This was the reason to which he attached the greater importance in bringing forward this motion. He would merely add that he recognized the benefit arising from his proposal would not be felt at once ; but he thought it would not be right to set it aside on that account. They had duties to perform towards their successors. The Hon. Mr. Bobinson suggested that the registration of deaths should also be inserted in the motion. The Hon. Mr Mantell suggested that the honorable gentleman should insert a provision for the registration of marriages. The Hon. Dr. Pollen said he would have been glad to learn what views the Hon. Mr. JSTgatata entertained on the subject. They of the European race were accustomed to the observance of such a law, and understood its advantages; but that would not be the case with the Maoris. They would not understand it, and it would take some time to educate them, in order to make them sufficiently alive to the advantages of the system, and to induce them to give the necessary information, so that a complete registration might take place. A very elaborate census had just been laid on the table, showing the numbers of the Maori population of the whole island. Those who were cognizant of the Native character knew very well that there was everywhere a kind of suspicion of the operations of the Grovernment and the Europeans in respect to them; and even in the matter of taking the census—which Europeans looked upon as a thing of course—they imagined some concealed object on the part of the Government which was calculated to injure them. He thought that would be found to be the great difficulty in the way of the initiation of such a system of registration as

his honorable friend contemplated, however desirable it might be. It was, however, a subject well worthy of consideration, and he could assure the honorable gentleman and the Council that if they thought proper to pass this resolution, inquiry would be made as to whether it was possible, under the circumstances, to establish such a system. That was all he could undertake to say. The Hon. Mr. Ngatata said that when he was asked to register the names of young people of the Maori race he did so, and of grown-up people also. That document was left with Mr. Mackay, and when he (Mr Ngatata) returned he wrote down the names of the young and old people of Wellington, and the document was left in the hands of Mr. Clarke. He approved of this measure. There might be some who did not understand a measure of the kind, but they were very foolish and those who understood it would agree with it. The Hon. Mr. G-. E. Johnson, in reply, was not prepared to say that such a measure as this should be enforced with regard to Maoris in the same way as it was enforced in respect to Europeans. He merely suggested that the information should be obtained from the Maoris by the Registrars. The honorable gentleman then amended his motion as follows " That in the opinion of this Council, it is desirable that a registrar of the births and deaths of persons of the Maori race should be kept, and that the necessary steps should at once be taken to carry out this object." Motion as amended carried.