MAORI LAND LAWS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2140, 16 March 1908, Page 2

MAORI LAND LAWS.

PETITION TO KING EDWARD VII. Press Association. AUCKLAND, March 15. The petition of northern Maoris to King Edward, as the outcome of the conference last year, will be discussed at a Maori meeting at Waharoa this week, when Lord Piunlcet will be presonfc. Tho petition states that the laws made by tho Government of New Zealand aro trampling upon the covenants and contracts granted to the Maori people by tlio Treaty of AVaitangi and "the Constitution Act of 1852, and tho Maoris aro becoming destitute owing to tho Maori land laws now in force. Tlio nre-emntive right agreed to in the treaty, that the Crown alone has to buy Maori land, was abrogated (or surrendered) by Governor Fitzroy, and subsequently further abrogated by the many laws of the Parliaments, and therefore it would never be just for tlio Crown to resume the said preemptive right without the consent of the Maoris. . , After quoting m detail the legislation objected to, the petition asks tor an inquiry to ascertain why tho Maori’s laud has been confiscated, and what benefits (revenue derivable) from the thermal springs owned by Maoris should be justly disbursed. It is urged that the laws referred to should be restored to the owners, and also the "mana” over such lands. The income, or revenue, collected under the Maori Townships Act should be paid to the Maori people, whose lands were taken for the townships. It is asked that various laws .be amended, and their administration stopped, until good arrangements can be arrived at between the two races.