A MAORI POLITICIAN.

Hawke's Bay Times, Issue 1605, 25 August 1874, Page 333

A MAORI POLITICIAN.

The following has been handed to us for publication. It is a translation of a document written by an intelligent chief of some note inthe Arawa tribe, and intended, we understand, for insertion in Hen are Tomoana's ' Wananga.' It is interesting, as rehearsing the poli-. tical history of the Colony from a thoroughly native point of view : Hearken, 0 the tribes, while I open the store of my thoughts, and show forth the thoughts of all the tribes. I will calmly unfold and show all those things that pain and bear heavily on us, the Maori people. It was thought when we gave up all our Maori customs, we should cease to be separated into factions, and no longer feel pain, or any burden, but these still follow us. Though since 1835 the Government of Aotearoa (North Island) has been in the power of the Pakeha, yet the eye has not be come light. When real peace came, and when the eating of man was abolished, with other old Maori customs, this vas done under the power and the government of the ministers of the word of God. They were the real men who made peace between the tribes; they cast all evil off the native people, and then the tribes lived in peace in the protection of the teaching of the ministers of God. Now in 1854, the Parliament of New Zealand was convened, and it was said: "This tiling, the Parliament, is to be a guardian parent." But there are two things which have been spoken of—first, Maori mana; second, the Treaty of Waitangi, which has been broken. This is also another; it was thought that the Maori would be allowed to bo a member of Parliament, and that the necks of those Maori members would be helped up to carry the burdens of the people. How could the Maori members speak, when they had to compete with the people of chiefs, that is, the European ? These Maori members had the stiffness of their necks made quite pliable by the hundreds of pounds of money given in the year of the days when Parliament is in session. And these Maori members only looked here and looked there, and turned round. Then the chiefs of the districts who sent those Maori members to Parliament waited, and listened in vain to hear the words of those members, year after year. But soon it was heard that the land had been tied, and a mortgage and all the laws had come into the Maori districts; and then the thought asked—Perhaps this is done as a consent, so that they may get the money they wish to borrow. Now, here is a thought of light: when the next time to vote comes for members of Parliament, and when Maori members are to be put into Parliament, then let the Paidiament consider this matter. There are 45,000 Maoris of this land; let each 3,094 people return one member, so that it may be in the same ratio as the Europeans, who are 229,000; and as there are 74 European members, there is also 3,094 Europeans who return each one of their 74 members for the Europeans. Here is also another thought of light. When the time to vote for the Maori members arrives, let there be two Europeans who shall be put in by the Maori people's votes; let these two men be real Maori scholars, so that they shall act as interpreters for all the Maori members of New Zealand. Let there be twelve Maori members and two European members—in all fourteen members. This i« to ask you, O tribes, if you agree with me in respect to this thought. Let your thoughts be written —let me see your consent to tins or your disapproval. The European alone makes the laws for the Europeans and the Maoris, but this mode of acting is not correct in the manner in which J look at it. In years gone by, it was asked that a Maori Government might be allowed to act in concert with the Parliament of this land, but this was not allowed by the Government. But the thought made these inquiries— Well, there are nine provinces in these islands, and there are nine Councils of Europeans. There are about 300 Europeans in these Councils, and there are 74 members of the Europeans in the Parliament. There are 45 members of the Assembly of Lords. All these members put together number 419, and all those make laws which arc to guide the Maori, Now, when in days past the money was borrowed, Tareha and Mete Kingi did not understand. All they knew at that time was known in these words. " We must borrow money of England for our railway works;" and these members, who were old men, consented as a matter of course, not knowing to what they consented. But after that time it was heard, " Oh, the Maori districts have been tied by the law; the power to lease or sell has been stopped in regard to private Europeans, and the Government alone can buy or lease in Maori districts. The Maori can only look on with disappointment," Well, this act of the Government would be right if they gave a fair price when buying or leasing, but they only give 2|d > per acre when they buy, no matter how large the block is, even if it be 2,000,000 acres. This price for an acie of land I look upon as but the mark that rubbing a piece of copper would leave on my

head. If it were allowed to be sold to the private European, great would be the payment given for an acre. Another evil of these times is, the law says that the Maori lands must be purveyed and passed through the Native Lands Court; then it would be clear to say this land belongs to, this or that man. Then the Crown Grant would be given; and then only would it be right to sell or lease. But what is such a law as this to the heart which has been led by greed to try and make the Maori race a poor people. Do you hearken, 0 Parliament, all the world, and all the people. The money of the Government which has been consumed for laud in the Arawa districts is ,£3,300. Some of these pieces of land for which ibis money has been given, have been surveyed, but not passed through the Native Lands Court; some pieces have not been surveyed; yet this money has been poured out on the. marae (open space in a pa) of Te Arawa. There have been seven Governors of New Zealand, and seven times have the sub-tribes and old men of Te Arawa taken oaths of allegiance to the Queen to support the Government. And also these sub-tribes have at those times when they took the. oaths, said that the pieces of land within their boundaries must not be sold or leased till the time came that each-.sub tribe or man had a Crown Grant for their or his own piece of land, then such-tribe or man could sell or lease as they or he thought fit. Again, when the foolish people of this Island rose and would have a great chief, they were chastised by England, but Te Arawa adhered to the Government in accordance with the oath given to the Governor. Some of Te Arawa went over to the people who put up the great eity, but the Government, said such men were not to be called Arawa. But the Arawa has been unkindly treated—their districts have been shut up. What a waste of confidence given to the mana (power) of only the words spoken of by the mouth. If tins private Europeans had caused Te Arawa to be poor, this would have been good. It is not so, as they who were supposed to lead to the consummation of justice, and the people to that which to them would be good, these have caused the heads of Te Arawa to become confused. Hence Te Arawa says:—" In our crying to the Parliament, the Parliament may perhaps be able to lift us from the great death." Why I say this is, I have seen the words of one member of Parliament, Mr Watei house is his name. He inquired of Dr Pollen, Colonial Secretary of the Government of Mr Vogel and Mr M'Lean, in respect of the leasing of land by the Government in the North, and that Colonial Secietary showed that the last sitting of Parliament had consented to the money for leasing land by which, in the first instance, the mana of the land would bo obtained, with the object oi a final purchase. The words of Mr Waterhouse, which upset the words of Dr Pollen, were clear. My view of the words of Dr Pollen is this : those words are like a hook with a bat on it.