MAORI NEEDS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2274, 20 August 1908, Page 1

MAORI NEEDS.

FREEDOM TO DEAL WITH LANDS PETITION TO PARLIAMENT.

As the outcome of the recent conference of the Maori Association, a petition, signed by over 4000 representatives of every tribe and liapu in both Islands, praying for the removal of restrictions on Native land, has been prepared for presentation to Parliament as soon as it re-assemhles. The following is a translation of the petition

“To the Speaker and Hon. Members sitting in assembly in the House of Parliament, Greetings to you. “The prayer of your petitioners witnosseth:— “1. We, the Maori peoplo of Now Zealand, who dwell under the mana of our father, King Edward VII, are being oppressed by the laws which are made by your honourable House in regard to our lands and our possessions, that we are sinking down to ultimate destitution. “2. Commencing from the Treaty of Waitangi down to the present day, the two races, Maori and European have been living together, and the Maori people have been watching. learning, and acquiring all ‘main’ (trades, industries, duties, and pursuits) of Europeans, including the knowledge obtainable in tlio schools and colleges. “3. The proper time has now arrived when all the disabilities should be done away with which now oppress your Maori peoplo and their lands, their goods, and their properties. “4. Therefore, we humbly pray that wo may lie given the entiro right to control and administer our surplus lands, similar to the right which lias been given to the European people.”