PAYMENT OF ROYALTIES

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 55, 2 September 1926, Page 9

PAYMENT OF ROYALTIES

MAORI GUM-DIGGERS TO ' PROTEST MINISTERIAL REPLY. (By Telegraph.) (Spsclal to "The Evening Post.") AUCKLAND; This Day. An appeal against the policy of the Government in imposing royalties is made by tho Maoris working on the gumfields at Ahipara, at the southern end of tho Ninety-mile Beach. Like most of the gumdiggers in the Far North, these Maoris are going through a period of considerable distress, following on the slump in the market for kauri gum. Henare 'Natanahira, chief of the Rarawas, has sent the following telegram to. the "Herald" relative to the distress on the Aliipara gumfields: "Government has not granted assistance in this' district, but this month imposed a 12J per cent, royalty on the only portion of tho field where a living can be-made. This portion is nearly dug out. An application to the Minister for the abolition or postponemont of the royalty has met with a curt refusal on the grounds that it- was to assist in the scientific recovery of the gum. I appeal for-your assistance in abolishing the royalty, which will cause' distress among my people, being at this time unjust and not in accordance with British fair' play." During a recent visit to the district it was discovered that the Maoris had been working.the field for a number of years without paying the usual royalty.' It was stated yesterday by an official of tho North Auckland Land Board that when the position was made known steps were taken to see the royalty was paid, as it was by the gumdiggers in other parts of tho northern gumfields. The Department's attitude was that tho Ahipara Maoris had been getting something for nothing for some time past. It was regrettable no doubt from tho Maoris' standpoint that the Crown should insist on its.rights at a time like the ■jrcsent,. but it was for the Minister to decide whether relief could be granted. It opened ,up a bigger question, involving, perhaps, the remission of royalties over the remainder .of the gumfields.