POLITICAL.

Otaki Mail, 6 October 1922, Page 3

POLITICAL.

3 j MB BANGI MOFFATT AT OTAKI. ! Mr Raugi Moffatt. candidate for the Western Maori scat, addressed a ' fair gathering of Natives at Raukawa on Wednesdy evening. Mr T. Rikihana occupied the chair. Mr Tuiti McDonald, in introducing the candidate, stated that Mr Moffatt was a most capable man, fearless, and I one who thoroughly understood all questions of the movement, particularly matters affecting the Native race. He had no hesitation in saying that he would be the right man to represent the Natives. They wanted educated Maoris in the House, men who could grasp and tackle the varied and complicating questions of the day. He admitted that the present representative, the Hon. Sir M. Pomare, was a I man of education, learned and so forth, j but he was, ho considered, on the wrong J side. His party stood for the capitalist—oppressors of the small man, and a remarkable propensity for over taxation. Regarding Ratana, it was quite true, he said, he had signed his covenant but for religious reasons only, not for political purposes, therefore he considered the stand he had taken was due to the influence of his father, Ratana, therefore they should have absolutely nothing to do with him —as far as political matters were concerned.

i Mr Moffatt. on rising to speak, con- ! gratidated the Natives for coining along, stating it showed that they took a great interest in political matters. Now that the elections were near it was necessary tlioy should give the fullest consideration how and for whom they i were going to vote. He took as his first subject, "The cost of living." This, he said, was a question which affected all from day to day. The whole trouble had emanated from the big 1 firms, such as in Wellington and elsc--1 where, who had formed themselves into what they called "combines," for the purpose of controlling prices to suit their own ends, consequently their little local merchants and storekeepers. who were more or less financed by these big combines or financial sharks, were forced to pass their high-priced goods on to them, otherwise out they must go. They had to blame the present Government for such a state of affairs; they were, he considered, the supporters and co-partners of these big concerns. Touching on the matter of Native lands he said the whole question was in such a complicated state that the Maori did not know where he really stood. For instance there were 2,951,000 acres vested in the Board. leased for a term of 50 years, and the Government had so framed an Act (Sec. 109) and had made it impossible for the Maoris to get their land back at the expiration of their leases, and there

was no other course open to them but to sell. This was a grave injustice, and they were quickly assisting to pauperise the Maoris. Mr Moffatt then went on to deal with rates in boroughs. He considered rates far too high, particularly so with the Natives, as they did not by any means obtain nearly the same benefits as the European would from the improvements derived, owing to the difficulties of alienating Native lands, special orders in Council, Land Courts and Boards, together with enormous lawyers' fees and those of the Government. On the other hand the Fakeha could sell any time when it suited him, consequently encouraging land speculators, who did not have the interest of the town at heart, floating in and flout- | ing out again.as soon as the opportuni- j ty arose. Inflated land prices were di- ' rectly due to the present Government and their big Rangatira friends. Land worth £2O per acre in productivity they i had boomed and created at a nominal value of from £4O to £BO per acre, more or less. What was the result of it at the present day. There were thousands of small farmers, including the return- ' ed soldiers, suffering under the yoke and burdens of land inflation. He said he would like to see a more pushing system of education for the Maori, and maintained that the Government, or any Government in power, should give their assistance in this direction. No

encouragement whatever was given to enable their children, who had passed their proficiency, to enter into the higher grades of education, or to the Universities. Education alone was the only means of saving the Native race. With regards to medical officers: There ought to be. he said, a law fj am " cd for a standard stale of fees, and the Maoris to get free treament. However, there was a sum of £7OOO per year on the civil list, and he would like this amount devoted to medical treatment, also that special hospitals be erected for Maoris as iy had been known on many occasions Natives have been bar-

red from entering institutions. Pensions for Natives: This wa.- a matter which required some attention. At present it was very hard for a Maori to get a pension. The same opportunities should be given him as the European, and when a pension was granted to him it was only half what the Pakeha got. All pensions should be based on the cost of living. Referring to Eatana 's son he regretted the attitude he had taken in political matters; he had, he considered, made a great mistake, and no doubt committed himself to much criticism and disfavour from all sections of the community, including some of hi-: staunch supporters. There T~a> no doubt whatever that the influence Eatana has borne on the Maoris had induced him, together with his followers, to get young Rataua into the House tie, jrer- was hot. Thc-v trere deMr Ho2att briefly dear- Tritji the Treatw o* aigi. and «'avd r iar it wa: a ras-ttiT Parliament could not deal with. It was a. question, h«- ifr th« Privy Council, and he assured them that th# . ma*ter would he referrsd thro-ngn £h« pr9j> a r channels and d»alt

f. with as soon as he was elected. Then and only then could they obtain any I redress. The Farmers' Union and the Dairy Union were dealt with at length by the speaker. The former, lie considered, belonged to the moneyed section of the community, with the present Government as its representative. The Dairy Union was much in his favour, and he hoped that a Dairy Union bank would be formed, for it meant self control and : low interest instead of having to borrow from the banks and other moneylending institutions, such as the Government at from ~>\ per cent to 7 per cent, whereas from the Dairy Union it would only be 4 per cent. ; Finally the speaker thanked the \'ativns for the hearing accorded him. Several Natives thanked Mr Moffatt for his patient and instructive address . and Mrs Raika moved a vote of confi- j dencc, but there was no seconder. j The general opinion of the meeting was that the candidate should stand ! down in favour of Dr. Pomare in order to make a clear-cut fight, moreover, his I chances were considered very remote against the almost formidable forces of Ratana and those of Sir Maui Pomare.