TARANAKI NATIVE LANDS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1368, 20 February 1912, Page 6

TARANAKI NATIVE LANDS.

MAORIS' INTERESTS AT-STAKE,

Mr. H. T. M'Dbnnell (Henare I'. M'Tonare),. o£ : Wellington, who was a supporter of Dr. Poinare's candidature at the recent election, writes, as'.'lollbws:— "It .was ..veil known 'before th'e'election that Dr.- Pom'aro -the people' to understand that ho would, if electetl, "loot after 'the. interests of" ttio Natives' whatever Government'was in. power'. Ono or , the duties; he is 'to ctfrry .put "for his hiipportirrs is''in .connection", with...t'be TaranaKi leases. The Native land leases granted under tho Act of 1882 are within a., couple of \Wars.of cspiry,.'(>nd';the'Niiti_Y?s a'rb a'skins:—have bso.n' asking—that the 'Government s-Wuld have these ; lands returned'fo thVNatiye? , :'iv'h«ri' the leases expire. 'Hie Taranaki Native, inChidipp To Kahupukqro, of Qkaiawa,, >' leading chitif, havo been led to understand front Sir James Carroll that these. ..leasehold lands would bo returned to. them. Biifc tho leases, under.the Act of 1892, wefn converted into leases in perpetuity, arid unless the lessees of theso lands by good faith nsk Parliament, to cahoel the leases they will pass from the Natives for ever. As an Independent member, with Opposition lcaninjs, it is felt by many: that Dr.'.Pomaro would be in a'■■stronger position to fight ciUr case in' Parliament than ko would have been had he inclined his support to Hie Government party. .Sir .Tomes Carroll's flowery speech and plausible tongue has undoubtedly hoodwinked the Maoris in the post, What betterment has the Minister given the Natives since the Liberal Government into cower? He has taken from them 3J million acres at a value not one-sixth their real vulue. If the Natives had been (riven a fair and just opportunity of puttins their land on the market they, would hare cot n fair deal. It's ■the old story of a string of bentJs and a.red blankot in excluinge fnr f. vicce of land. "1n.1891 a Cominifsion of Inquirv, consisting of Sir Jam(>s Carroll, and Mmsts. Roes and M;;ekav, was anpoiuted to report uiwn' the situation witli regard lo tho Taranaki Native land leases, This they, did, ond iu the s?s*ion of 1892 n Rill was passed inventing the baUi:n» of the re-s-rves in the Public Trust Office for ever. What Tβ Kaburmkoro and tlio other leadins; chief* of Taranaki aro asking the orwsonf'Minister to do is to hsvx? that Act of 18M"reneaW. insUnd of the land" from fhem for ever. If Sir .Tr.mea Cn-rrnll : lms any re(rnr<l for , his-■ Maori friend, 'thon. in Hi" f*<\> of wtint thnt Aot provides,, snre-Vh" will eon'Mer beforo ho t.nkp.c hk final s*en into oH'V'in.

"Tlio mcnil.wr for Tnrnnaki romir'Wl the Minister la«t week that ho pTx-.-nv« v l Inst, s-wion to lww'tho Act of I?S2 lM'O"'r'it ninW the provisions pf (h<; Act of ISM. and t-o svt'un' a eomi"itlw of inqi'irv with mvird to t'"" "f tho intercuts in IS.'lWfl aer<v« ■»," Tnx«iki 'leases hoKk.i-.i eonnpetion therewith. We'do not wniil Uii~p. lands to piss,fmm our possrosion. and w» want Dr. ; l'oinarc; to' fight our battle." '.;'■■