MAORI LAND CLAIMS

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 23972, 12 June 1943, Page 4

MAORI LAND CLAIMS

INTENDED SETTLEMENT REITERATED

STEPS MAY BE TAKEN SOON

Prom Our Parliamentary Reporter WELLINGTON, June 11. The intention of the Government to make a final settlement of Maori land claims was reiterated by the member of the Executive Council representing the native race (the Hon. E. T. Tirikatene) during the Budget debate m the House of Representatives to-day. Mr Tirikatene referred to a paragraph in the Budget stating that preliminary inquiries with a view to arriving at a definite and early settlement of native claims were in progress. In a South Island newspaper, an anonymous correspondent had said that the Labour Party was only using this as a political bait, he said. The writer did not have the courage to sign his own name. If he was a Maori he lacked the mana of his forbears, and if he were a pakeha he should have given his name instead of signing himself “Aroha Te Iwi Maori,” which was incorrect Maori. South Island Maoris were too big to suggest that it was being used as an election bait. The claims had been in the air for 94 years. How many elections had been held in that time? An interjector: And the Labour Government has been in office for seven years. Mr Tirikatene; And it will not be more than seven or eight weeks before the Government takes steps to carry out the promise in the Budget. He said that every member knew the history of the claims of the Maoris of the Ngaitahu, Waikato. Taranaki, Aurangi, Patutahi. and other tribes. Justice delayed was justice denied, and he was confident that there would be no further delay in doing justice. The Government had given a definite pledge, and he had so much faith in the Prime Minister and the Government that he knew the pledge would be honoured.

He said that 20,700,314 acres were acquired for £2OOO, or 43 acres for a penny, with the promise that the Maoris should have sufficient land to keep themselves and their descendants for all time. From that time the Maoris had fought for their just rights. What Maoris would most appreciate was that the Government was to honour the pledge given many times in 94 years, but never honoured. The Budget said that the money to be paid would be for the benefit and continuing advantage of the people concerned, said Mr Tirikatene. What the Maori people wanted was to win the jvar. If what was agreed upon could be used to promote a victorious peace it would be at the disposal, he was sure, of the Government for the duration of the war. There was time later to discuss how amounts could be used. If the Government thought fit, the money could be used now to provide houses for the benefit of those who had a right to the money, or to assist in the rehabilitation of Maoris in the services. He was sure that it was the Maoris’ desire, if it would assist the war effort, to place the returns in the hand of the Government by way of a loan until the war was won.