MAORIS AND THEIR LANDS.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 66, 11 December 1907, Page 8

MAORIS AND THEIR LANDS.

■ SIR ROBERT .STOUT'S ADVICE. ■ /. . (BY TELEGRAPH—PRESS ASSOCIATION;) Cisborne, December 10. . Wajapu Natives have intimated to the Nativo Land. Commission .tha.t'.thoyi a]] desire .to ,go .in for farming,. and stated that, if the 'land, was cut up, there would not.be 500 acres apiece. • . Tlioy desired .to retain their land, and urged that no should be made. The p9sition of the Waiapu land is • thus stated: —Pap'atupu 'lands, 143,000 acros; titles ascertained, , 60,000.;. .leased to Europeans, 200,000: Native-owned, 403,000. , iMr.Ngata, lif.P., stated that in dealing with Waiapu lands-His Honour would have to exerciso his own judgmont, as ho (Mr. Ngata) had some - diffidence in coining with nim, having been largely responsible for'the industrial progress that had be.en mado. A great question, for inquiry was whether the people, by their actions, had justified their claim to the largo portion of land now lying waste. Sir Robert Stout, replying, said the Maoris' only hope rested 'in their becoming farming people.' He warned them' of the evils ot drink. The only way'for the race to live was for them to work and livo . the simple life. He pointed out that Parliament had decreed that what land they did not, use must half be' sold and half leased. Ho had nevor seen more'beautiful pastoral country than theirs; tho soil was much better than in many parts of New Zealand, and it would be a disgrace to them if they did not mako it one of tho finest districts in'the Dominion.' The remaindor of the sitting was dovoted to-detail work.