WHO PAY’S FOR IT?

Patea Mail, Volume V, Issue 445, 19 July 1879, Page 2

WHO PAY’S FOR IT?

The Taranaki Herald of Friday last, says:—The monthly Pariliaka meeting is an expensive luxury which ihe natives indulge in 10 the neglect of their ordinary pursuits. The time occupied in going' to and returning from Pariliaka, as well as their stay of generally a week with the prophet, leaves (hem very little time to see about planting crops or performing any profitable labour. They live without any care for the future. They are provided with money by means best known to themselves, but notquite understood by the majority of the Colonists, When one looks at the abundant supplies the natives have at these Pariliaka gatherings, the questions suggest themselves : Who pays for all this ? How do the natives get the money ? They can afford to waste their time in a manner that would soon bring utter starvation upon a European community, yet they are free from any kind of poverty—they revel in apparent abundance. How can these things be? It is a singular anomaly for the natives to wish the Europeans to leave New Zealand, when they derive all their ease and comforts through the presence of the Europeans. Of what value would their land be if they had all New Zealand to themselves? They would be compelled to perform much more laborious work than they do now, without any of the comforts they are at present enjoying. The subject is fraught with deep interest to everyone, and ib is the most important question awaiting the consideration of Parliament. We want careful deliberation upon the matter; it cannot be shelved any longer. The rights ot the natives must be ascertained ; we must accord them those n>Ms, and put a stop to their exorbitant claims.