MAORI WAR VETERANS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 669, 20 November 1909, Page 7

MAORI WAR VETERANS.

MAGISTMTES .TO HEAR CLAIMS. ; - /> V: Ai'roport was submitted to the House "'of -Be-, ■presehtatives- by tho Pnblitr Petitions, Commit -, fteo".toHha , :effect^tliht-the'Government should lihstitutq:.inquiries-into' the; claims • of.'iall ■ old ■spldiersi*. . (■'•:;/.', .,?y~i\■ ■'■■ '■"'■ : ,'" fJ '■■ ■ [\:■■ ''■■■•''s'-■■*■' '.-.' : V ■; : vSlr.''Mnssey'.suggested' that tho, Prinie*.Mjnis-. :'tei<'iriight: i ; mate'_a■ statoment'-.bn' the matter.'; ; '". ■.. : , The '-Prime- , ; If inister ' pointed out '.that last 'year.the.Government intimated'that it intended ithat-all-such'claims should bo investigated. It! was , 'decided .that -both;"fresh claims,and- deci-:sioM".which,hnd-not Kiycn satisfaction should 1 bo nnally' : settled/ ! The '..Govbrnmcnf!. would •make - arrangements -that.; 'tho -magistrates : might;iiitvestigato the claims. , in'their respec-; tive:districtsahd;submit their roporfcs to:tho Government, which' would make a recommenda-' tiqii to the. House- next ..session/; It,was felt that if a' niaiywero sent .round' the country as was done on a: preyions-occasion matters .would. b6 no-.further forward -thani,before!.''•'■■.?{((>*'.' ,'i •UJIr.-;Wilford'omp'hasis6d the point that'magis-! trates. : should'be' instructed that in regard-to; tho. cividehco to vbo, produced in :snpport of a claim it.'.should notue confined to.strictly legal, evidence. : ::::': ; : : - '^.V: ■' ' :, ']:- : ' : r '-'.;■:■' .-.- V-v , ' ■i !Dr. ; Buck 'inquired whether the claims-of. old Jtfaori sbldiei-s who: ftmirht on' the'side', of ."thei'i British would bo considered .with/those of Eukk peans.-'-T. , -V-'-'-:"'-',y"-"-'- , - '': ■ ; ~ : ''-;:".':': : '? : .-'-\\ :, .:. Sir. Joseph': Vl' think that the old -Maoris .who; ,f onglit on .our. Side' are entitled- to ds'.much .consideration .as '. our own . y eterans^; ; (Hear, ■TiearV) •' ■". - 1 ■''■.-,-:-'. . : ■' ■'■"'-. :,'' v : [r: ■''!■' •■'^■■- '-' : -■' : - !\ ;Mr.; Jennings, asked: whether' thoso.iivho did ■not receive: war medals would now/have' an opportunity for. ■ having their for. medals :settl<sd. : ■ .'■'■"- , :, : -.Vi s •;'.;.-i;;-'; : ;.-.,.;;;: .:>>::;■■;a - iJSir Joseph .!Ward : ..thft r u?;ht.it !wns rather late ■ in. the day for ..that mattar -to ; bB dealt, .withl' Ho would prefer .to kog tho'efforts of themagis-' .trates: confined to the; consideration of' claims for- compensation^ l Hovtevcr,;hbwould:ha,ve the' . matter considered.-: y> • ''■' ■■, V'.- ; .:; ■:'-'<:','''::■'■ ]■':/ ; ' Mr.. Boss informed the.-House .that somo;. of 'the ! 'yeterans' did not ; want money, but .would like'a token' , in recognition'of.-fhoir. .'.: : - ; Sir' Joseph: ?If is. rather -''difficult'- to say :.ex■actly- what course will !-ho oiitlined. '.for...tlio: magistrates' to f ollow,,and -I' can't; at , this stage: promise.' Bpeqifio'" peri ofmance : in "regard; to any; particular :£'■■?.'■';; fe : .''- '■■"•■■■■■:' '■'■ '■''. '•,'■•;. - : '