MAORI REPRESENTATION.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 715, 14 January 1910, Page 6

MAORI REPRESENTATION.

Sir,—ln Parliament We have'given! .to . the Maori race of New Zealand' a sitting of five .'members to . represent their race; and .to' further' - help . and • advancethem and. their/interests . as.;subjects .'.of. : the British 'Empire.' These four "members • are: Hoii. Mrs Carroll, Messrs. A. Ngata.'Henaie Kaihau, .Tame. Par a.ta, and To Eangi- . the first-named ..being 'elected - by.. a . European ■ constituency, representing ; v the Gisborne' electorate,', and,/.therefore, en-' titled ,to 6geak;'and ; vote on both' Euro-. , pean'.and Native questions .-whenever un-''aer-.debate.-d'uring the' sittings[of -Parlia- : ment.. Not.-.50,. however, , with the -other four members.' They.' are there. solely ;as. representatives of the Native race, and-to ' further legislation for their advancement. How is it, therefore, that' when Bills un-der-'discussion, and affecting only fthe European rate , and tax payers of this . Dominion, issues at present which do not affect : the Maori, .that> any. of [these [other four Maori members are allowed to place a vote.-.fdr.or against any,proposal or Bill brought , forward;' by other ..members', on behalf of their European electors? -These other 'four [Native ; members'haye no right to votofor or'against[any such Bills; they. are grantedthe privilege'of' being representafives .of the. .Maori race, only, to" help to advance ; them along on "the same lines' as ,the'. British population. As [regards [the' Hon. Mr. Carroll'sposition; : who;, is, a [Maori, andamember of'the House, 'by European" voters,' and rin, 'charge of Native Affairs,; he has a right to - speak and : vote' on' all: matters :refemng' to the.Legislation: of the Dominion for both races.: :But'[ there: is one "question'.l [would. like to' ask as to • his.' qualification. fbr' such a positk>n, and as- to' his-holding office as Acting-Premier during 'the "'absence '"of j the Sit Joseph' Ward,on his' recent visit to England, IS"'tho:Hon. ;JJ>.. Carroll a' British- pi tizon in the"full"6ense of'the word," reaping all the ['-benefits 'accruing ,from. : such, and sharing.all; taxation in connection thorevv-ith? Or does ho, as'a I ,Maori;" hold[large tracts; of land,- or any interest [in'• eucn; which is' rapidly increasing " in' big values,'-' aid contributing- no snare> of' taiation -to • the State,"' thus reaping: to the fullest extent possible that increased value in . land spoken-of as'the unearned increment, a valuo which the Maori [race is reaping'at the expense of'the'.whole-.of. the'rate and: tax payers of this• Dominion, no matter whether ; he be a farmer in. l ' the ; backblocks,- ''or - a labourer'in' the cities? The; Natives-are' fully 'aware'of this .value, and. instances , have come under-my,'-notice-.where f the Max>ri has said; Hn •matters'; relating 'to their:: lands ' th'ey ( wore waitinn for the mtearned increment.' Possibly - hence ! the ."Taihoa policy''-on Native land'affairs.— , X am, ato* ' '' ■■■■"=' TE KUIIL