LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

Waka Maori, Volume 12, Issue 22, 7 November 1876, Page 273

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

Wednesday, 27th September, 1876. MAORI REPRESENTATION BILL. The Hon. Captain Fraser, in moving the second reading of this Bill, said that in 1867 an Act was passed for the better representation of the aboriginal inhabitants of the colony. The Act was to continue in operation for five years. In 1572 another Act

was passed, continuing the Maori representation for five years longer. That period would expire in October, 1877, and the object of the present Bill was to continue the operation of the Act during the pleasure of Parliament. He need not say that during the time the Maori members had sat in the Council their conduct would compare very favourably with that of the European members. He begged to move the second reading of the Bill. The Hon, Colonel Whitmoue said that representation of this kind was not itself defensible, and it had a tendency to keep up distinctions between the Maori and European subjects of the country. There was no question that the Maoris were at present enjoying an undue amount of representation in Parliament, and the only excuse that could be made was that they had not yet got all their lands Crowngranted. Eor that reason, he would have much preferred seeing some period fixed at which Parliament would of necessity take the matter again into consideration, and see whether the Maoris could not be elected in the same way as Europeans were, according to their qualifications. However, this was a question which the Government ought to be responsible for; and, as he understood they gave their support to the Bill, he would not himself object. The Hon. Mr. Ngatata stood up to speak because the Maoris were concerned. He would ask, Why were Maori members placed in both Houses of the Legislature ? "Why should it be said that an Act should be passed to discontinue the Maori representation ? It was like dividing the Maoris from the Europeans—having one law for the Europeans and another for the Maoris. There was not one law for Natives and Europeans. The Maoris were not able to legislate for themselves. There were some Europeans who consented to hear what the Maoris had to say, but there were others who said that they should not be listened to. He would have thought there would be one law for the Natives and the Europeans. So, with regard to Native lands, there should be one law for the Natives as well as for Europeans, because the Natives did not know how to make laws, and the Europeans did know. Let them bring forward that which was right, and the Maoris would support it. In consequence of what had been said by the Hon. Colonel Whitmore and the Hon. Captain Eraser, he got up to speak on behalf of the Maori members. Why should there be only four Maori members in the New Zealand Parliament P There were now ten European members representing Wellington, Rangitikei, and Manawatu. There seemed to be some objection to a large number of Maoris being in the House. Were four Maori members able to bear that which was weighty ? No; they were not able to bear it. The Europeans were able to bear it, because they were numerous. The Hon. Mr. Holmes coincided with what had. fallen from the Hon. Mr. Ngatata. He thought the honorable member had hit upon the proper course to be followed in desiving to see the Maoris placed upon a perfect equality with the Europeans in the matter of representation. The great point should be to induce the Maoris to register the titles to their land, and obtain a vote the same as the Europeans, and to exert all their influence to place as many Maori members in the other branch of the Legislature as their votes would permit them to do. There was no reason why they should not take their places side by side on perfect equality with the Europeans. They were the original lords of the soil. They had sufficient intelligence and acumen ; and he thought the Legislature had derived a great deal

of advantage, especially in connection with Maori affairs, from tlie presence of Maori members in both Houses of the Legislature. He would not be surprised, if adopted our ideas in that respect, to see them obtain double the representation they had at present; and he would like to see it. He would have much pleasure in supporting any measure having that tendency. The Hon. Captain Phaser would like to inform the Hon. Mr. Ngatata that in another place the Grovernment had promised to take into consideration the question of increased Maori representation. As far as the honorable gentleman and his colleagues were concerned, they were on an equal footing with the European members. ISTo power on earth could deprive him of the seat he now occupied. Bill read a second time, considered in Committee, and read a third time.