HEAD MEN OF THE TRIBES.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1821, 6 August 1913, Page 7

HEAD MEN OF THE TRIBES.

MAOIU PARLIAMENT,

For tho past fortnight a Maori Parlittmeat has uceu sitting in solemn conclave iu a Sydney Street building, To lieu Heu TuKiuo, ,tho Taupo cliict, protiding over a representative' gathering, whicn, but for the smallpox .scare, would ■ have included two delegates from each otf the twenty-lour Maori Council districts^ This Maori Parliament is following closely the deliberations of tho l'akeha Parliaiilent across tho road, particularly, as regards tho Nativo land administration. An Executive Committee has been appointed, oonsisting of Eruera Te Kahu, liawaho, W'initann, W. Hipango, and W'hitau, whilst tho recorders at tho conference are J. H. W. Uru (secretary) and li. It. lieu lieu (assistant). • An appeal lias been sent to the Hon. ». li« Herries (Native Minister) and -tho r>ativo members of tlie Legislature, for. "assistance and support in preparing and passing any proposed legislation which, will coiuluco lo the bjnelit and'.betterment of the Maori l ace, "and a request has been made that legislation affecting Maori lands or Maori people should bo reierred lo the conference lor suggested alterations. Tho appeal concludes:—'"Tho coni'erence considers thut if you (Mr. Her* ries) and your Government will assist and meet it in the manner above indicated, legislation will result which will bo of benefit both to the Nativo race and to tho Government'of New - Zealand. Iho conference considers that a most favourable opportunity now,' when ' there aro such a large -number of leading iNatives, .representing ... all , tlia. r tribes scattered throughout tho length and breadlJi of New Zealand, assembled hero lit; Wellington, while Parliament is,in session, and lins only just commenced sitting, to fully discuss all matters whatsoever 1 pertaining, to Nativo affairs generally, and to hiuilly settle some, if it is possiblo to do so. ': , The Native Minister has promised to submit to tlio conference tiny Bills which affect the Native race, anil has expressed liis willingness tjio. delegates at any, time. . . Tho conference is discussing certain restrictions concerning thn leasing and selling of Nativo are,is, and some of the delegates liavo expressed tho opinion that their rights aro lieing ignored according to the Treaty of Waitangi. Another matter of discussion lis tho alleged confiscation of 18,(H)0 acres of Nativo land in Taranaki about 1801, which in ,1892 was leased to Europeans... The hope is expressed by the Taranaki Natives that, thev will lie allowed to bid for the leases (some of which n.ro now expiring) when they are re-submitted at auction. To Ka'iwipiikoro and Te Hoknma le Whena aro representing the .Taranaki Natives at tho confcrofice. ,--- -■ ■;