NATIVE LANDS.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume L, Issue 12588, 19 August 1910, Page 8

NATIVE LANDS.

NATIVE AND EUROPEAN OBLIGA-

TIONS

THE FUTURE OF THE MAORI

(Per Press Association.)

AUCKLAND, August. 18

The difficulties that local bodies labour under in having large areas of native lands in their cVstricts, came in for considerable diseusson at tlis > afternoon's cwnferenca of representatives of Auckland County Councils. The remits in each ense were from the Otamatea County. Mr .Coates moved: "That the Government- bo requested _to road all native land? and legislate in the direc-t-on of acquiring and layng off main access roads through native blocks of land prior t) granting titles." He pointed out that in some cases titles were granted, but the settlers could not get propei" access to their properties owing to native lands-surrounding them, and the fact that the native lands are not roaded. The motion was carried.

Mr Coates further moved: "That the Government be urged to more vigorously expedite the opening up and individualising of all native lands; also that native lands as apportioned be subjected to county rating within the meaning of the Rating Act." He snid all who baa native lands in their districts knew what the position was.

Mr Harding: Your native lands are subject to ratine under the Rating Act, but your trouble is that you have to go to the Native Minister. Mr Coates -went on to say that the natives in his district were impoverishing themselves by selling their stack and spending the proceeds in a few weeks in the towns. What wns needed was the mdividualisati-on- of native lands and the placing of same obligations on natives as on Europeans. He thought it was a cruel shame the manner in -which the natives were bein£_ treated.

Mr Ooa moved as an amendment that it bo nrered on the G-ovnrnm.snt that all native lands should b-3 subiect to rates, and that in cases where the titles are not ascertained the Government should pay the rates, providing for repayment by the owner 'on an basis.

Mr Davidson » greed wibh Mr Gow. "We were, he said, treating the Maoris ns children, inasmuch as we gave them no responsibilities. The future of the Maori wo.s either extinction or absnrution in the ropulati'on. and in his opinion it would not he long before they wei'6 kept o.s at present. The amendment was carrieu

Mr1 Clay moved a further amendment tn the •effect that in the opinion of the conference the best solution of the question was to blace the Maori on equal terms with Europeans as regards rates and taxes, and all other oblivat'ons of ownership. < This, however, was lost, and Mi Gow's motion "was carried.