King Country Chronicle Wednesday, Sept. 14, 1910 A MAORI OBJECTIVE.

King Country Chronicle, Volume IV, Issue 294, 14 September 1910, Page 4

King Country Chronicle Wednesday, Sept. 14, 1910 A MAORI OBJECTIVE.

A feature of the native legislation was referred to by Dr Buck during the debate on the Native Townships Bill in which a member had been laboriously uttering time-worn platitudes on the subject of the taking of the native-owned lands by the State. The doctor held that compulsion should be tried on the European landowners first. He apparently overlooked the fact that provision has long since been made for the compulsory taking over of lands from European owners by the State. It is also well-known that limitation of area is a cardinal feature of our land laws, and is equally favoured by our rival political parties. An entirely unnecessary amount of smartness and word - juggling is indulged in with respect tD the whol6 matter. With his knowledge of New Zealand history the educated Maori should know that at least the bulk of legislation affecting native lands has been passed in the endeavour to conserve the native interests. With his knowledge of world history Dr Buck should know that no native race has ever had better treatment than has the Maori. He must know further that regardless of sentiment or minor considerations of any sort, no native race can possibly hope to stand as a bar to world progress, or to the national progress of the world's foremost nation. He should further remember that an unrivalled opportunity is offered the Maori in the form of a share in a great nation's destiny, the privilege of embracing and living under the laws of the most liberty-loving people on earth, chance for those, who, like Dr Buck, are sufficiently advanced to fall into step with the foremost of our educated people; the opportunity for all to benefit by our civic and social laws of every description, as well as a strong helping hand to compensate for the fact that Maori civilisation is but recent. Despite the murmurings of cheap sentimentalists or the clamourings of interested advocates it can surely be asked what more can be given. The ridiculous point, so frequently advanced, that the Maori wishes but to be left alone to live his own life, and presumably squat on his own lands, is hardly worth consideration except for the fact of its frequent use. How would the Maori have fared in world progress on his own account 7 What chance would he have had to maintain his national integrity? Natural law decrees that only the most progressive nations shall persist, and the Maori could hardly take rank with progressive nations in the year of grace 1S 10. But the Maori has the chance of playing a part in the British Empire; of helping to direct the destinies of his own country, and of attaining a distinction equal to that of the worlds' foremost peoples. Docs Dr Duck want more for the Maori? Evidently he doqs, and so do Mr Carroll and certain other Maori advocates. 'They evidently desire to create in certain districts of the Dominion —as many as possible —centres, which shall he planned with European brains, and developed with European capital, which shall belong to the Maori, and for which perennially increasing rents shall be paid, for the purpose of keeping a section of the Maori race in idleness. The project is bold, and, has all the recommendations of simplicity, but that it can possibly lie allowed to mature is unthinkable. Unfortunately for the King Country the scheme has been allowed to proceed too far, ami in order to remedy the position strong action will be required. In addition it will be impossible to escape the infliction of hardship in certain directions, but almost any present sacrifice will be immeasurably better than the perpetuation of the present state of affairs. A vitally important feature of the case, which may, or may not, have been considered by Mr Carroll and his party is the fate of the rank and lile of the Maori race. Held in bondage, and fettered by Carrollian ' legislation, it is impossible to conceive that they can develop sufficient initiative to work out their own salva- i tion. There is a place awaiting them ! beside the pakeha, with whom they may advance step by step. That place they can never fill unless they be en- j dowed with equal rights and privileges, ! and equal responsibilities to the pa- j keha. The sooner that day dawns, the sooner will the real advancement I of the Maori race begin. j