THE ROYAL COMMISSION.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 577, 4 August 1909, Page 4

THE ROYAL COMMISSION.

' ' "P' ; V ' ■ bp'fl :'i'- ■;• -7 ■ ' ■ yo.Ur ( AND NATIVE LAND SETTLEMENT. to ojouii (ffV?v;■ : j'iV!:U>V'i "->■•: -• -\". . ■ little j (Bt C. A \ocso ) ' n^tt More'than,Wo,' 1 yearsv;riml.six. ; ; irionths ago Vpui ip /tlelir'ercd-at : \'-;.daimed;that/tho .IJovermr.ent wa» realljr-in hv - earnest'in- 1 its desire, -.to open up lor further t - c pi- ( residue of'tlie 'Nstire lands,:: tho ' ' To assist m doing this, he announced lus is p ' intention of appointing a Itoyal Commission, '« «■ :m6mber^;o^whic}i>'vhc'said,,;iWouW..com- jV- ()V ; ( • mand. public.respect. '. -. -.. V:: gi-ea !-'.- • 'At the time., the'writer expressed doubts, outs !• • . ••: as to the possibility' Mitii FjS'iiV 1 ;-' the; colony ' sufficiently. l free : fi , pni / local; pre-; 4. vi ' judices to command the confidence of ;tho Na--. tons |¥.& L ;v : ;'ii-:.tiT^:Vnd.'suK^tcd r invVieWof;tlie!inn«'racrr.' miss :'-'. ' :.. «blo thorns'which, beset the..question—which:. are. !• :s: 'v- thorns <liad pricked .the,: spirit of both, races- and. 'sinM'Wo;signirig;of Hho ii'eaty :of. Waitatigi liert 'v i r;.:. jn defcronco to the,two co-<liguatonts .you "that-; treaty- :(Snjgkud '!iiid',;the, : witl; fe'■■X{;-/'f Maorifjksijple), .experience' the f: • ' of : Native races and of: English lan 1 should the -- .be appointed to.represent, the, Home, Gover- this montane w'lio would be of sufficiently .high ■ fS;S^ ; 'V)fficral-aiid;'socialstandins;toMt.as chief com-' ar i : •/ missioner. Ho. also suggested that , the . : :' : .T] !' r : ./. Royal. Commission bo limited to throb, olio que; be^,appointed .by the New .{ Zealand! Gorcrnmon.tjJ.and,.the:.third ;by. the imp • ■ iiV commission- I still , a n<i vfmain'toiii.'-. wottld;havo started'ohfcfrco of pre- tj ou h■. judico," and would have commanded the re- in g v pf but 1/ ■ .Such a'Commission would surely .liavo avoided the illegal proceduie which has wi lppcd tho £9 tt J j . .:- .entire Question in a worse tanglo'than evir.. pc ri But let that pass. V;;.'. - '.'/ '7 upp t s * J VOK i.; :"Edifying"i Tho Prosont Commission.. ; n ] l( ;• • -.'-' The commission, a3 constituted,.lias wasted .7 r.'v..: moro than two and a half years .in acquu- '<•.-• * ; iiig information which the Native Affaire'.De-.-. A • p'artmbnt were (or ought lo' hate -been), al-; sett : ready :inpo33cssion or." , In point of fact, rsiicl r- .. much of the data conveyed m the interim re- kn< r ports; of the commission - must.. have, been hur obtained from the ; Department. ,Tho .111- try: p .' . qiurios made locally could only have been by r ' : porfuncfcory,v as it was impossible. for the ign :' commission (in the. rerr hmited .time de-, nisi 1: :. i " : - voted to the matter) to nave collected much of feKtthafvinformatiou.l in the localities, visited, par t' V'.-:: ..'»or, indeed,- to have seen much' of the. vast tha -i amount of land reported upon. And the not Ma t-':. result, is that 1 two; and a: half. years have qu< been. pasted. ' Neither of the tw.o peoples tne r , concerned are satisfied:, The proceduro of tho by |'; ; ?^'; , «'CommiMioh-:;hMj'-;;iii--.mMy , Co; jIIcmI, as 11 has recommended the disposal ( of Ho f, '> ; • ' lands' previously disposed of tinder authority obt of the Native Land Couits -The settlement, Art w : by'any process, of-aiiyof- the land reportetl kn' f ; .'f' l ;Op6n'<h'asibeen : ; delayed by ; ,,o,rder.-ih;Councilv leg 'iirurib;ip,-1907i ; >ahdnthe ; :wliblo:',tinglo del t.,:; i ■is. waiting to be legalised by further Acts of to if. '.-.i I .'; Parliament when the .-.House cnu find tune da to legislate again.- This is truly an edifying La S:®syv-sgectaUe. ; t:A\^-' > '■.■■■' l° s '• . 'Soon , after tho commission began .their ho began. : ,tqj;shwer ,uiJoi bo i". -. : v. his Excellency the Governor,' aijd: ; .dii . for'a timo that tho commiMioh. \vas eoing th • !••••?:rs•• to iijnstify ..-'ospectations. ■: Bills .wcro: intro- tlv v ; duced -by the-Native -Minister'-at-tho-'usual ch i-: Vperiod/of' tho ensuing Parliamentary.session, as feja moribund'dSbiise,)tirediand;anxious ; -in be Relieved of -woj'k} ora .pro-.- tp ;■ : - longed sespion ;.-<whichj-after, tho usual melfec- fa :K|ii ;"&tiTo-;i^ratiglirig^-betivecn.j;a ''few';.of ;the;;mori) iiii Kl; : : : jt?; ,-:fenergetic ; -ftiembors Committee forcNa-; ov f.; .. ',; > tive -AffaiTS and tho Native 'Minister, became .is 'thfc:-tiriiel'';v'>! n Tho|Native L'and- Settlemeiit i\ct. ntid. its in - : numerous. amendments! are-.;comprehensive tli ■ enough-, and- convey to;the.-Native -Minist-ei ef i;v • v absolute- power to appropriate .every acre of fcf k- land; whi& the' iinfortiiria'te' Watives^still ; no-o ;l &;v'.- ! ii'-iniiialiy .pdsstssl' i l ' • fe-'i/'Act'of!-November• 25,'-'1907,-"in:'thirteen of its, ai ly 1;' eixteeii'pageii, sets forth how the land is to ,rt > • bo : appropriated by. the pakehas, and three h. carelessly-drafted and vague :pages 'try, to Id ;i explaitt';how ,may—in fi 'MsettleSiupon wli'at- ; may be left to them, l'ut, ~ aj - grotestfuo .as it- may appear, .this ,legislation p v; ' ' - to-a considerable extent. illegal, ni.d, .is a i';- •' " : . has been Temarked, is waiting'further, It gis- o v ' latioii to liberate it into action. , & A Rising Tida of Discontent. £ j; v';' - ' Meantime, a rising tide of discontent among 1 j, the pakehas gatheis in volume, and tho q ; . Maoris arc- slowly -trying .to realise tho situa- v ; tion. The fatherly advice and profuse pio* T misc3 lavished the latter by the u.-m- : -j - niission -to some esteut gained -their confi-- ■ i donee, and. as they are slowly grasping tho 1 fact that tney cannot longer-be [lermitted to ' .-. retain their large '.areaß'.of Viand 1 for the pro- .;. pagation of wecua, ill -goed faith they acceptcd . o tho advicb and; set. to work to-utilise ; the areas they, desired.to occupy. This-they j ' have been doing, and largo areas of their fond r ': are now'clearcd and fencedj aiid-this.with-i: : . : out' aJiy- assistance pecuniary or; otherwise, i -C,;,':-;."to 'Settlers .Act. to assist .the. Maoris;' - • , i;;?;V5-';?,'!.-.:' , -; : .^e^prMciit ; -pbsiti6n : is, : therefore, so; far -; . as it applies',-to the Maoris, that they are - : waiting and -.listening ~ as, it; wcro for the . H.' . .. Government echo 'to tho- reportfi. of. tko ir.-^'commission. A.-^itiablo;-- position,',:if any of our South Island M.P's is ill try t-o realise '• . . it, and-o.llo'that. in .no. jrny -reflects credit . ■■ upon them,; because of. the ignorance/ and, - ibf;. interest-which-they'display- in; Par-; fe'./!" i "^;V.'''liaiaeiit J '^hett.vNati.voiaffiiirs..-.afp';uiid^vdiS- i : to-vbrious; J j?ft-'t/?' iput- forward.ibyJ the . Natives. in dif-; . , ' feront, parts . of. tho country, as' to tho dis- ' i. -posal.of their land, the members'themselves j- , ' " proposed others, ,«ind the.so liavo been fool- ■ 1 .1 . ishly' embodied' in their rpport to , Govern-; ■-ment. It is impossible, that tho.---Govcrn-.niont should, attempt.-to carry/.into cfi'cct i-. some of 'these, as. they are' irrational .and retrograde. Such;; fbr 'example,; is the' junior, i member's idea of the. Maoris continuing the j*-v '■ 'bccupatjbn ;bf ■ .iands'.;as >a.;, community, 1 J;;:;% :^:-; .;i'ahd3bnaro 1-idea; Mfather-' J; ; '- m iiig - tlie ; Waikato .Maoris' agaiii, ijiider. Uheir htetV: - iing ; iairNgafuawahia.;;;.lndced ! ; /it.is pitiable B.iV- j-' .to a degree to observe how tenaciously the i-. : . Maoris cling . hopb sof . being - permit- : i ted to / dispose of their lands. They canie readily to the suminbns of the.cpminission, f.W:'; >because of. the sympathetic car with-r-wliich ' ; ; Sir' Robert .Stout and .their . countryman, |; ! }.f w.5 Apirama' Turupa Ngata, -listened, to ..their : : ; • proposals Btid_ desires. They are. utterly 1 1 --■ > uniibio to .realise tho- situation, and groat ;- ... . will be their disappointment when they .do.Pitiable Case of tho Maori. * ' ; P' --- " After all ,thb. .past years : .of .disappoint-. :. me'nt they,'stil| clmg to tho "hope deterred "• which. makctli ,tho heart..siok.". Even, the , leaders' of the : Youhg Maori party. ;havo yet r. ;••••'•'!. . mucli to learn of the ways; of tho, pakcha f - - with the - nativo- rac&' of', tho ; world. Light | i .. Light 1 and :Knowledge! is what; they re- ■: "quire, : ,and this can,only como td them when they are treated as men, and not. as cln d- ; 1 .- ron. Extend tho franchise to them, - as, fully as we all enjoy it, and :tlicy will'.soon, ad--|i ■• ; ;,,'-'y"X-.r just/ -themselves •* to.-; tho liew condition of ■ things'; ltoyal-Commissions-liavo'previous- - 1 ;]y, considered and reported upon this .proh- : ■ . Jem of how to utiliso the Native's land, but it has never suited the Cabinet policy of tho V. • Government' of ;tiho day to'' carry their re- ..' ■ ports into elfeet. And because of this, boj . . cause no honest effort has ever been mado to settle tho Maori upon a snfflciency of [ his • own land, lie ■ languishes and detenor- ' 'atcs ' So it is to be feared that tlie labours f, , J ' of the recent Royal Commission, will bo i.'. - . consigned to tho limbo of ineffectual enf. deavour -m which; that of their predecessors ! . rest, and tho Maori will. continuo to liv« his niole-liko existence until lie. no longer ' ; has any. earth to burrow.; in. Thei whole procedure is absurd at tbis late period of tho Dominion's history. It is impossible i ' ■; that tho two races should continue to exist '..in this ;limited : country under two different f-' systonis of' laws, and tho sooner this fact I-- - realised by both peoples,'-anc\'acted upon, j-- the sooner wo shall minimise,;,and perhaps '; 1 ' ' avi'id, the racial differences which every observant porson may seo are- becomini i- Because of those foolish rccommendations' there will be. again much . dis appointment and aggrieved feeling amonj f : the Maori people. They, see no^ -reason-ioi f iv-Mthis - wearisome ; procrastination,''and "the £ foar is that, consequent on their, disap pointmont, tlicy, will., again.sink back intx their former state of sullen discontent, a they have in Taranaki. A Rotten Beed: "Tho Young Maoris." ' ' In the soutlr much has recently been mad Yn.,nw ALaori nartv, and much 1

pected .of'j,fem,yjr.;the ivay of hdpi"oJ® , ttle their peoplo on their lands. Ibis will ■ "found a : rotten rood; to lean upon, ana Ur readers are hero and now wnrneu not expect too much ftpm these enthusiastic . ling people, who, altliough sanguino,- have • tie power to iiiflueiico tjieir; raco:;in sucn \tters as tho disposal of their, land. The mug llaori party is pur.ely and simply a OselJ;tißing-'emanation of ' the Anglican a]]( inrc'li, haviiig .its. inspiration from a ito Maori College near Napier, and tlioy civ present a 'small., prominent section ot sti; 0 Young Maori 'p?o(-Ie 11ns promuienco til partly..duo :to.- r tho. distinguished ability N ;l '-.a-.fewUofvthe: ; leadiiig young men of tho 1 irty,..■ but t gi'.catly,,due, to th« : support the JW bvernnicnt; has. given- them. ; nor •eiifer' proportion, -'of - the ilaori. pepp}® , arii itsido Lite ' pale' .of . .the Anghcan , Church. liny" are AYesleyans"and,'Roman Catholics, very few aro l'resbvtennns (the Prcsbynan Chinch lias- Iwcn >ci;y . f.upiM - in ;i issiunaij Tiork among tho Maoris), many ng: :c '^jret : /'outsidei*tho:.pdo of every Church, da iid.-aii iiifcreasiilg...n(imher ;are being shep- w|i erdbd by rtlio ,Mormons.. .' Fnrtter, tho na oiing '-Maori vparty* has identified itself . ith the Native Land. Settlement policy ot- (U 10 Government; and this is obnoxious_to 10 great bulk of the Maori people. Hut 11s is a digression. . , ! . • artli-Ilungor Strcns -U;.on tho Palieha. :Tho-issuer .of thif Native land settlement ' libstibn are becomiiig serious, and ">.,,8 -0 ra e feared' thb,Govonimcnt,aro f not sufiiciontly on npressed- with ;the growing importance ot it in nd the absolute necessity, lor a more cspedi- H . ious solution. J lmperial interests aro sxcit-. - lg public attention, and causing a diyersiim, ut. this is transitory, .and,, when - this has tc a-ssed, 'it. will bo found .that tho,Native land sttfement -. Question -has Lrfached a more 1mKSrativd stage:;, Tho earth-hunger, is M ipon tio' pakehas,'; and tho northern, preiss. is t]] ■oicing their clamour for more of; the Maoris nheritance. Si ,lr. Facing-Both-Ways! The Natl'vo Minlstor. PAs -tho ■ Nativo Minister's' .Nativo - .land ettlement' policy develops,, it moTo t} siid more evident that it rMembles the gamo y jiown as trying to mn with' tie hare, and tl mnt with tho Bounds. Ho professes to rrins to serve tho'best interests .of-bis rate t . )v : leasiuir their land to tho, pakcha, wlnle gnoring' the. fact, that this'would; be fiewg- £ rising tho Maori si if land tenure which his Governnicnt is s) jarontly' unwilling to accept. Also, jie s •,hat .the pakoha .general!/;is-averw tfaon landlord attempti to solve this iuestion:' ■ Ho'; knows',that a Government in . L past brought discredit upon themselves, . oj passing into law tho' imquitoas Woot Coast.;-Settlement, Reserves - 1892. r He knows thit tho pakehas, who by-..tliat Act d obtained tho: right;of_renewal .of^their- leases,ftre non- clamouring foi' the frwhold, aml he knows that;, until that. unjust -v legislation is .repealed ,his. policy .on t dornned/Vbecauso , ;of - it« lnsmcenty. Ho also knows the Maori scents r danger in passing his land over toi tljo Maoiri. Boards to'admimstor, as wheil ho has e lost-tha "foe'simplo m P oM e' sW "v 'he ,sars ho may lose .the. kind, as well. Thus it will f bb ; ovideiit. ; tliQ Minister; finds it .somewhat | difficult; to play; bis, game, but, while leasroL thonahd'.to - tbe ; pakelia,"he throws ■dust ,nte- i tlie eves of tho liaJo by promising that- .t ( shall alwavfl be ablo to run over that < as it is only to be.leased to the pakelja,.who,. | -iii the meantime, will always sow rich c'over 1 to feed-upon.- This policy' is eertain c fail. •: It contains no .provision m tbo w«y an .-to_ settle U» n » : owners on 'apportion of; their own land, wliidi, is' tho first-desideratum, and .which is abso--lnt-clv neceteary" to restoro the. Maoris faun in : our., honesty of intention,, and. tltem- to'* i*rocecd,.' further with us-m our efforts to utilise tlicir surnlus lands. TIIO Writing on tho Wall. 'This policy will ; assuredly.- excito racial a— It ' is! rising- fast now. as .an readily, be sfeen-wherever the pakoha-.setJer lias/to pay road, rates and- taxes which Jiis Ma'ori ; by-pernicious law exempt from.^,lf this tpnieqfc jgaHiors; in. for f9'. as it prouiisoß 0110 of two ~p-pcars pcars m tlid'TistaViither the Nativp . Minister; and-the Nativc ; Department: (as at present ; -vwitV'ttheir pTesentpohw, mil [». sacrificed,. or -.Government will trinrits .sails to,sail ..before'.the, popular, breezc. .'ln either eaJ, tho storm is lively to blow ,away the Nativo Minister and ,Ins Native, land •settlement policy..;. Even tho , possibility. = of, , ; .an "Oppositioir^Governnicntcoming^into., power would bring.,.n; 9 ..comfort, for, there is .the : writing oii tli'o,:Bft^" M - ne , ; e '^ /; ' l ; elie ' ; 'ijpharsin.'V''; I ■_ ■ v'; -y ; Too Only Hops. ' - When tho voicO .of .tho people is heard 1 there will -be -no' further teniporising; .Bore will be no further uso for Royal Commissions; and while tho, Young Maori Party .aro: oasking- in the light of platform publicity, voicing their good and humane and phi anthropic .pjkehas aro indulging iiv polemics, behold, tlio traditional law of the Anglor Saxon ' has' asserted^itsclf ; ,< ■ .'; "tlie ' i'oad Ol'd'law,' tho simple plan,; „ ruled' tho:'world sirice -it began 1. - ' That he shall |tako- from any man, . V ' '. And' ho. shall keep whato'er- lie can. f When- that day,'comes, howutterlyjaljsuijl w:>;, 3' appear the .'higli-falutiii' , platitudes .of .he t' leader, of ".the poling Maori Party K who, while 1 : 'holding forth" on the fusion of the races, has re--i iected the-only .possible way. of", bringing -it -' abouti'lie.; .extending'..tho. same law to-Maon s| aiid.-pakclia :ali)sCv, 1 ' ;W,hdp;the Maori peoplo -; .liavo/bcciV: wasting' time, in piking and; jeti- - tibning'Parliament, wheil-,,they., should';have a : been! ; organising., themselves;' int<J a-powerful !- -combination...which., would .hare.., scoured .1 ho i- risp'ectYand..-;attentiqn .of friends and -oes, - a new generation, of pakehas has arrived, t Devoid of, .any,' sentimental feelings .towardj a- the Maoris,; these aro eager and, .anxious to r obtain land; and Government mil in the ■ end e -be ■ compelled,.'to. .provide ; it; for:, them,- eve® •;> iit'-thb sadrifipo'of .thb'Maori. people rand thw -- will ibt'-'b'b'-a-;'riew experience., in New .Zieair: land/ The : : only .lib'po'', still left then for .tin le Mabri abecpt'the-good the gods provide ! i; e '„-.to 'enter tlie arena of political and:£OCia t- life with 'the- pukelia under , tho same,. Mi. Ie ;Sentimbnt' 'a-iKI /sympathy havo'-CTne a i' past generation, ' but justice will;, surely ,b< ,K extended to those who believe 111 th. lj doctrine of labour.