MAORI LAND LEGISLATION.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2142, 18 March 1908, Page 2

MAORI LAND LEGISLATION.

PETITION FROAI WANGANUI.

Press Association. WELLINGTON, March 17. The movement of the Maori people for a fuller recognition of itheir rights ’under the treaty of Waitangi appears now to bo more or less general. In addition to the petition to tho King which has been preoared by the Maoris, and which will' be discussed at Waharoa by his Excellency the Governor this week, the newlyformed Maori association which was inaugurated at AVanganui last month, has framed a petition to be presented to Parliament dunmg the coming session. The text of it is as follows: —To the Honorable 'the Speaker and members df the House of Representatives assembled. Greeting: We, the Maori people of New Zealand, .residing under the mana of our father, King Edward VII., being oppressed by tho laws which are from time to time passed by your honorable.' House regarding *©ur lands and our property, are gradually being impoverished thereby. From tho time of the treaty of Waitangi down to the present day, your Native peoples have resided together with tho Europeans, and have liutermiugled iwit-h them. They have watched carefully, aud ihavo learned tho crafts of tho agricultural and pastoral industries of the pakeha, and they have also had the advantage o’f education at .the schools and collets established for them. Wo have now reached the period when all these disabilities between, the two races should be removed from your Maori people with regard to their ilunds and their prosperity, and therefore wo now pray that tho sole control and power to administer our surplus lands shall he granted to us, the same as is granted to the other subjects of his Majesty the King.” «’ The document, which has been lying at- the office of the secretary of the association (Mr. Parata), has already over 100' signatures of Maoris, representing all the tribes from Ngapuhi to Ngaitalm. Invitations are being sent out for a conference of delegates, representing all branehe.s of tho association, which is to lie held in Wellington during the first month of the Parliamentary session.