NATIVE LAND BILL.

Wananga, Volume 1, Issue 8, 24 November 1874, Page 39

NATIVE LAND BILL.

August 25th 1874. In the debate on the Motion for the Committee of the this Bill, Karaitiana Takamoana said he had some remarks to offer on the subject, it had been a matter of regret to him that the Native Lands Act was passed. '. When the Native Lands Bill was brought into investigate titles to Native Lands, before two years had elapsed the Maories came to o-rief through it, when the Maoriei came to Parliament, then others began to petition Parliament in regard to the grievances they suffered though the Native Lands Act, but the Members of the House had not answered the prayer of these petitions. The Maories heard that a new Bill was being prepared in respect of Native Lands,, and they were anxions to do away with the Native Lands Act altogether, they wanted the grievances that they suffered through the Court put right. . Last year another Bill was brought in by the Native Minister, he got up then, and opposed it, he proposed, that. it should be circulated among the Maories by,the Native Minister, and when it obtained their consent, then during the present session a Bill to establish the Court should be brought in. He was

sorry for what he said last year, in entire objection to that Bill, he had no Land that he could brin<v under the operation of the Court, arid he was only bringing the case forward now on the part of people who objected to the Court. He thought that when they got this TVill, they would perhaps send in petitions in favour of it, but all the petitions that had been received were against it, he therefore rose up now to request that the Native Lands Court should l;e done away with. If any evil were to happen throug the Native Lands Court not being in existence, let it be as the Maories wished. There were many Members in the House who objected to the Court, and they considered that they could bring forward something better in, place of it. "This was no personal objection of his, but was brought forward because the Maori Members sat in. Parliament to receive the grievances of other Maories, and to submit them to the House. If this Bill we .intended to give" relief to those persons who had suffered from the eperations of the Court, he would not object to*it, but he did object to it because it would refer to lands that had not yet been investigated, He would not object to it if it referred only to lands the title to which had been investigated, and which had been brought before the Court.