EQUAL RIGHTS

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 3001, 20 February 1926, Page 2

EQUAL RIGHTS

MAORI AND PAKEHA SETTLERS.

MR. COATES PROMISES HELP

Gisborne, February 18,

At a Maori conference at Tikitiki yesterday, which was attended by the Prime Minister, speakers said that the Government had looked after returned soldiers in regard to land, but had done nothing for Maori returned men.

The Hon. A. T. Ngata appealed for the consolidation of Native lands to be expedited, and for titles to be set on a satisfactory basis. He asked for equal rights for the Maori with the pakeha in regard to roads on outlying Maori properties. The Maori race was not dying out; its growth was an economic factor which must he realised. Though not in an open manner, the Maori was not, perhaps unconsciously, receiving equal treatment with the pakeha. This did not apply particularly to the Waiapu district, but in Hawke’s Bay and south of Gisborne the Maoris were not getting an equal share iii the labour markets, and in many cases Maori shearers were ousted by Australians. “You have the full strength of the pakeha behind you,” he said addressing Mr. Coates. “We are only a small minority. You have over 75 per cent, of the House behind you. The titles of the land in some districts are vested in several owners. Areas held like that are not satisfactory to anyone. The Government has, however, said that they are trying their best to place the natives on consolidated areas.” 1 Will at they wanted Mr. Coates, as Native, to do was to educate the young generation. To have a great nation, the leaders must be educated. There would have been no Katanas on the West. Coast if the Maoris there had been educated like those on the East. “We want to stress education,” Mr Ngata continued. “The trouble with the Department is that they have old musty tiles, containing records of l>asl methods !of administration. We do not want to hear what has been done in the past; it is the future that counts.” 1

Mr. Coates, in reply, said that the Government would'assist to meet the demand and would help in the conservation of Maori art. He hoped that people would realise that the Maori was a growing race, not a decreasing one. In regard to Maori soldier settlers,,he said that it was fortunate that they did not lake up land at the time of the boom. There should be no differentiation between Maori and pakeha settlers. The Government would have to go into the whole question and see how it couldi get Maori soldier lads on the land. The question of finance must be considered. The Government would go into the question of expediting titles, though there were no end of difficulties ahead, but the problem had to be faced, and it was for the Government'to find a solution. The Prime Minister said that he would take up the matter personally with the Minister concerned to see how far he could go to Hielp Maori farmers. Consolidation work would be pushed ahead without delay.