SETTLING MAORI CLAIMS

Chronicle (Levin), 26 September 1946, Page 7

SETTLING MAORI CLAIMS

-Press Assiciation

COMPENSATION FOR LANDS CONjflSCAlifiD

By Telegraph-

WELLINGTON, Kept. 25. When th« Houac of Eepresentatives resuined tonight, Mr. Fraser moved the conunittal of the Waikato-Mauiapoto Maori Claims Settlemeiit Bill. He said it was'a further atep in the settlernent of elaixns brouglit by various tribea in regard to the conliscation of lands as a result of the Maori wars. There was no doubt in the minds of tliose who had studied the problem, about the inherent justiee of the Maori clairns. A Comiuission whieh investigated the Maori I claims in 1928 found that the eoiiiiaca j tions had been exeessive. Mr. Ffaser j said tlie ainount of niouey it was pro1 posed to pay the Waikato-Maniapotu people, would bo of great beneiit to ; them. After diseussions at Ngarua- ' waiua last April, when the GovernIment's ofl'er was aceepted, Oabinot agreed that wHile the suiu of £50(JU annually should be paid in pcrpctuity, .anothor amouut of £ot)0l) should be paid forthvvith and another £1U(X) yearly for 15 years. The Bill inade provision'for a. responsible board to be set up to administer the moueys. It spoke voiunies for the sense of responsibility of the Maori people when thev deoided all thc money should be for the eolleotivo beue lit of the |>eople coneerued — for the promotion of health, soeial and eeonomic welfare, and education. Mr. Fraser said he had not ' the slightest doubt the money would be wisely speut. Mr. W. J. Broadfoot (Waitomo) said the Opposition would expedite the passage of the Bill Whic'h had brouglit to U eoncl'usiou a long standing grievance. The Bill was an acknowledgement of the justice of the claims of the Waikato- Ma liiapdto people. Mr. Tirikatene, "wlio, lirst spoke in his own lauguage, conveyod greetings to King Kdroki and IT'incess Te Puea, and commended the Bill, Other Maori members also added thei r praiso of the Bill. Mr. II. T. Morton (Waitemata) said it was n6 use "dishing out monev" to tlie Maori people whieh was demoralising in its effect. He thought the Prime Minister had laid too mtich emphasis on money beiag paid to the WaikatoManiapoto people and regretted there was no provision among the objectives of the Tainui .Mauri Trust Fund Board for the training of Maoris in craftinan* sh'ip and skilled trades. Mr. Fraser, in reply, said he thought tlie Meniber for Waitemata was speakiug outside the Bill. "The keynote of the measure is uot the money. It is an injustice put right as expressed by the Membcr for Waitomo," lie said. Under the purposes of the Trust, provisiori wus m ade for technical as well as cultural training. Jle eonsidered the Member for Waitemata was guiltv of ovei exaggeration when he said the Maori people should uot be given money. There was the example of tlie Taranaki Trust Board whieh had handled inonev received by them as well as any board of directors. The dav of patromsing the Maori had gone; The Maori poojde Wero now cnjoying a sense of responsi bility whieh cotild not be expected of them twenty years ago. The Bill was put through the remain ing stages and passed.