THE RIGHTS OF NATIVES.

Kawhia Settler and Raglan Advertiser, Volume IV, Issue 282, 26 October 1906, Page 2

THE RIGHTS OF NATIVES.

(to thb editor )

Sir, —An association has been started in Auckland called tbe “ Maori Rights Conservation Association,” the object of which is to give the natives their land and lei them enjoy the same law as the European enjoys. At preseut a claimant to land has to pay £1 each time he speaks, which is a heavy tax on the unfortunate native. The Association proposes to establish one central board of control, to adjudicate as to ownership, such board to consist of three natives from each tribe, whose decision ahall be final. All present native legialation now obsolete, contra* dictory and therefore useless are to be superseded by new and up-to-date laws suitable to tbe present. Better facilities for the leasing of native land are advocated, and by giving natives the same laws as Europeans they are to gain the advances to settlers, thus placing them on a par with other settlers, besides enabling the more energetic to farm their lands instead of leasing to pikthis. The true object is to make productive the immense areas of waste land in the north, which is an object worthy of the support and help of all. Ti e treaty of Waitangi is not dead, but only sleeping. It will be awakened into active life if tbe Maoris in tbe east, west, north and south wiil combine with their Pakeha friet ds in Auckland in forming a nu menus end powerful association. Do the M '.oris desire to use their lands for thrir own and their children’s benefit? D > they require a proportionate voice in iho cmncils of the colony? D* they desire to re ostHb’ish the Maori whsre kura wherein their children may learn agriculture and ".ho things useful to the Meoria ? If so lot them ’cumbiue. Tho way is now before thurn. Lot those papers their p.keha friends send bo read and ft Iked in the wharepunas, and then returned, signed by tho Maori peoph'. Lot tho North Island nuite in one inprrg iablp whole to g< t j i.-tico from the Government for »hc n r<h and tho iwi Maori. — Vours, etc , MEKE.