TARANAKI MAORIS

Hokitika Guardian, 20 May 1929, Page 3

TARANAKI MAORIS

DISSATISFIED WITH COM i’ENSATJ ON. ,By Telegraph—Per Press Association.) NEW PLYMOUTH, May; ID. The proposal of the Government to pay £SOOO per annum to Taranaki natives as compensation lor lands confiscated since the Maori War, was the subject of a further conference at Waitara during me week-end. Dissatisfaction with the offer has been expressed by a section of the natives. Sir Aparana Ngata attended the korero and strongly urged the Maoris to accept the offer of £SOOO per annum in perpetuity, in the spirit of conciliation in which it was tendered. However, he said the Government would consider any further suggestions they had to make. He pointed out that Taranaki was more fortunate than the Waikato natives, who had been offered only £3OLO per annum. A complaint was made by a native deputation to the Minister that Taranaki Maoris were receiving fair treatment in comparison with other provinces with regard to assistance, particularly in regard to the education of young Maoris, from a fund of £IOO,OOO derived chiefly from rents, and administered by the Maori Purposes Board. It was pointed out that the disposal of the fund was entirely in the hands of the Board. Sir Apirana Ngata promised to sympathetically consider the matter.