SOUTH ISLAND MAORIS

Hokitika Guardian, 16 January 1925, Page 1

SOUTH ISLAND MAORIS

HISTORIC LAND CLAIM. CHRISTCHURCH. Jan. 15. The historic claim of the South Island Maoris to proper compensation for handing over to the pakeha in 1818 tin* g'eat'T portion of the South Islamt. i- expected to lie advanced a further step as a result of a sitting of the Native Land Court at Tuahiwi, near Kaiapoi, on Monday next. Already a large niimher of natives interested in the claim have gathered at Tuahiwi, where a Inti or meeting is being held its a preliminary to tin' .sitting of the Court. The claim involves an area of about twelve and a half million acres, which was handed over to the pakclin for .vtiOOO.

The claim has been before Parliament almost for generations, and il reached a cniulilioii of finality after if had become an almost hopeless problem, when in 1021 a Royal Commission made a clear, recommendation for a. settlement on the basis ol monetary compensation, which was fixed at the sum of 53.'.1.000. This did not complete the matter, however, because the Native l.aml Court has yet to discover the individuals who should benefit. The sitting of the Court at H Haiti \vi will he for the purpose of taking evidence from the desu'iulants of the Ngaitahu as Lo the rights of ownership existing at the time of the Kemp purchase in 1818. and rights due to conquest or nr: tipalioll. The Court will endeavour to trace the line ot descent with a view to giving the successors of those wlm were parties to the famous deed some tardy recognition of the bargain they handl'd over to the pakeha for the nominal consideration of C2OOO. paid in four instalments. There is no suggestion that when the Native La'.d Court completes its investigation a number of natives will share in a cash distribution of IT"L----000. The money will he allocated in different ways, and regard will he paid to the future as well as the present welfare of the natives.