THE “TAIHOA” MALADY.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2126, 8 July 1907, Page 4

THE “TAIHOA” MALADY.

Mil CARROLL’S “SLEEPING 1 SICKNESS.” A SOUTHERN CRITICISM. A DECEASED PUBLICAN ATTACKED. (Special to Times). WELLINGTON, Friday. Mr. Rutherford, who lias lately been looking into the native land question, favored the House with his views on the subject this evening. Turning liis attention to the Native Minister (who at this moment was out of the House), lie said that everybody realised that Mr. Carroll was a gentleman of great ability, but unfortunately he was troubled with a maladv known as “taihoa” (laughter). This complaint, he said, was somewhat similar to the African “sleeping disease” (laughter). The only difference was that an attack of the African sleeping disease meant speedy dissolution, whereas if a person was born with taihoa the more ho had of it tho longer he lived. (Renewed laughter). At this stage Mr. Carroll entered the Chamber, and innocently wanted to know what all tlie fun was about. The Premier having enlightened his colleague, tho latter’s face took on a broad smile as he turned to give Mr. Rutherford his attention. Tlie member for Hurunui went on to refer to the appointment in 1903. of “King” Mahuta to the Executive. The Native Minister, in a speech delivered on that occasion said that as the result of that half a million acres of native lands would be acquired for settlement. “AVell,” continued Mr. Rutherford, “I may be wrong (it is difficult to get at the truth), but so far as I understood not one single acre of that land has been utilised up till the present time.” The Native Minister had also on the occasion referred to stated that certain great rangitiras had signified their willingness to dispose of their inheritance in order to satisfy the land hunger of the Europeans, but they still possessed that inheritance.

The Native Minister, in replying to Mr. Rutherford, read returns as to the areas of Native lands that had been sold to Europeans, and said that many of these critics -whose eyes were constantly turned upon native lands would resist to the last drop of their blood any wresting from them of a reasonable portion of tlieir own vast estates to meet tlio needs of closer settlement. Many of the natives, ho said, would compare favorably with the member for Hurunui when weighed in the scale of human character. The more wealth a Maori accumulated, the more genorous he became towards others of his caste, for ho always respected his responsibilities. (Hear, hear.) In the course of sonic further remarks, Mr. Carroll referred to the work of the Native Land Commission and said that he had great hopes that when the report came down good would result from the labors of the Commission, and that the necessary native land legislation would be placed on the Statute Book this session.

In his speech Mr. Rutherford quoted from a letter he had received from a Gisborne Tosident regarding a publican there recently deceased. Mr. Carroll, who followed, resented the reference made by Mr, Rutherford, and said he had never used and never would use for Ills public utterances a private letter or arguments contained therein. To support his case ho also had obtained a letter from this same person who had complained that he was unable to obtain land. Mr. Carroll went on to say that the publican about whom Mr. Rutherford had made slighting reference had been a member of the County Council and various other bodies, and was a man greatly respected in tho district. His loss was keenly felt by many a poor family in the district. He was a man who did good, who always desired to do good, and yet his memory was to bo subjected to flippant reflection by the member for Huruuui upon statements contained in a letter from a private individual. When Mr. Rutherford had spoken of that man as a publican he could only have made that reference in disparagement. Yet the hon. member himself was not entirely free from involvements in respect to conditions of that kind. The unkind suggestions made regarding the end lie came to and the means by which he came to that end were not creditable to the member for Hurunni, and he was sure that in that House no .other member on any side would liave been guilty of any such impropriety. (Hear, hear.) Ho was certain that no member of the Maori race that Mr. Rutherford had been so derisive of would have been capable of an act of that kind.