New Zealand Native Land Settlement Co.’s Meeting.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume XI, Issue 1330, 17 July 1883, Page 3

New Zealand Native Land Settlement Co.’s Meeting.

Last night a meeting convened to consider the Petition which is about to be forwarded to Parliament against the New Zealand Native Land Settlement Company’s Bill took place in Parnell and Boylan’s Hall. The building was crowded by both Europeans and Maoris. His Worship the Mayor took the chair, and addressed the meeting as follows : Gentlemen,—l have been requested by several gentlemen of the community to call this meeting, the object of which will be best explained by reading the advertisement convening it. (Advertisement read). The duty of this meeting will be to endeavor to obtain a fair and reasonable bearing on this subject, which interests this district so much. He would take no resolutions unless they were in writing, and one at a time would have to be disposed of. No doubt the resuit of this meeting would have much to do with the passing or otherwise of the Bill now before Parliament. He would call upon Mr Rees to address the meeting. Mr Kerr rose at this, and said he would csll the attention of the Chairman to a case now being heard before the Resident Magistrate’s Court, and the result of this meeting would greatly tend to decide the said case. He would therefore ask the Chairman not to pass any resolutions for the passing of the Bill. Mr Gannon, amid great applause and confusion, addressed the meeting :—A far more serious aspect surrounded this district through this matter. This meeting is called to express an opinion on the Company’s action. They need not be afraid of the Bill, as it would never pass through the House, fie said the chief magistrate of this town has no right to preside ovex such a matter as this. If the meeting passed any opinion on this matter it would tend to prejudice the result of the case now pending in the Resident Magistrate’s Court.—(Cheers.) The plaintiff in the case calls this meeting, and asks you to help him. That is the full meaning of this meeting. — (Hear, hear.) This meeting was called to prejudice your minds—(Cheers.) Mr File said he had a preliminary objection to make as a ratepayer—that the gentlemen signing the requisition were not burgesses, and therefore should like to know whether the ratepayers were to bear the expense of this meeting. Mr Rees said he would bear the expense, and now, having listened to what others had to say, he would ask that when a resolution was put and seconded, then they should ■peak. By that means they could show if it was good or not. He was one of the those who moved to have this meeting, for the purpose of explaihing the Bill and also the petition against it. The meeting was called tor one purpose—viz., to test the people’s feelings on the Bill and Petition. The Bill had been introduced by the Native Land Company, and was styled the New Zealand Native Land Settlement Empowering Act, and a petition had been got up against the Bill. He would now read the Bill. (Bill read). So far they could see the Bill would do with the present cumberous deeds which were required, by taking over the land, cutting it up, and disposing of it. The Company would have to take it into the Native Lands Court to get it passed. This would be sufficient to show its honest intentions—(No !no I no!) The Bill simply facilitated land dealings, and such dealings must be examined by the Native Lands Court. He need not point out to them that the inhabitants of Gisborne had greatly benefitted by the Company. Ever since the Company had started it had done a deal ot good to the district (Cries of No?) especially during the laat 18 months (Great disturbance). It is evident there are few here bu t will endorse this statement. (No, no), The fact is self evident. All the Bills seeks to do is to give the Company greater powers of doing good in other places, (iliseas). As it ie now it is impossible for it to cut up tne land.

A Voice—Let the Government do it j Likes of you won't let’em, Look at the bill and nothing can be seen in it as the petition makes out. No, the bill is lolely for the public good. (No, no, hoots). I should like to know who got and drew up the petition I tay the petition was published after it had been sent to Welling ton. (No, no), and did not receive your approval. This petition is no good. U has been got up secretely, and secrecy always contains fraud. People who have to go and get the petition signed by others, being afraid to do so themselves, what does that show ? Persons seeing the Bill and petition cannot do anything but say the petition is not true, but a fraud The end of this is obvious, if the Company's Bill passes it will do away with the present land sharking, (Laughter, hoots, hisses). If the Coy, contains land it cannot paesibly keep it. (Great confusion ) The persons whose interests are injured by the Company always attend these meetings, and get other people to do their work. (Voice —What do lawyers do?) It is a great stake the inhabitants of this district are playing for. Unless the Native lauds are thrown open, the district will not advance. If the lands are left in the hands of squatters what will the district come to? I say the lands must be thrown open to advance the district, and the Company will do this, and is the only channel by which it can be done.—(A Voice— What did we do before it came ?) I also ask how we did before the Company came into existence. I ask the workmen what wages were they getting before the Company’s existonce. No, it has done general good. The Company has won for us friendship and power which we never had before. (Cries of —Read petition.)

Afterj persistent demands the petition was read by Mr. Rees, and elicited immense applauss, from the Natives. 8. Taiwhanga being specially acclamatory in favour of the petition. Rees contended that the Company had to pass a resolution to enable them to raise money. The Company would only apply to the Government for money to build roads and bridges. I suppose you would not have the Company to form roa-ls and bridges for you. You would sooner go without them than let the Company build them. Then you would ba fools. The County Council more than they can now do, and you won’t let the Company do something they can’t do. (Loud cries of read remainder of petition.) He was compelled to proceed reading the petition. (Loud applause, each clause being loudly applauded). He did not mind answering any question like Mr Ross’ as they were relevant to the question. (Cry ; why did you want to overrule the law) ? Because the law would not do what they could. Why could not the company be an agent for the natives ? Any one that acted in that capacity w-s assisting the opening up the country. The bill was a private bill. (Cries of the bill is a public one, read the petition.) 8. Taiwhanga—" I don’t rub the poor women of their lands.” (Loud cries). 1 know perfectly who the company—those who want the lands. 1 beg to move the following resolutions : — “ That a petition said to have been signed by some of the inhabitants of Cook County praying that the New Zealand Native Land Settlement Company's Bill may not become law, and forwarded to Parliament does not truly represent the feeling of the inhabitants of this district, but merely of a small and insignificant portion thereof, and has been

prepared and signed by & clique desirous of manipulating the Native hud* of the district for their own personal benefit.” The Chairman : I will now read the resolution Mr Rees has moved, and then anyone can move an amendment---(Loud uproar and cries of Chair.) Mr Tucker begged to second the motion. He was sorry to say that this meeting was largely composed of those who did not understand the purport of the Bill, and would not understand the explanation. He asked them to listen to the explanation. Mr Rees would give any explanation required, I do not understand the Bill [hear, hear]. I will leave that to someone else to express. Let us look at the Bill clause by clause. What have we had but trouble with speculators ijcriew, what about the Waikanae property\ Let u$ see what we are likely to get from the company. The company had offered their land under the hammer. They had had a bridge built for them, and they cuuld pass over it without rate or toll. With respect to rates, could it be supposed that the company would go against their interests. Mere :it has been asserted that the ’and had been taken from the natives, and that they had received nothing iu return. This hud been done by the land sharks, and the company had been charged with it. If the company om only open up the country, they will confer a benefit on all. The company was only asking to be enabled to deal with the natives in such a manner as to do away with the present troublesoi: e forms. I say that it will be a benefit for the place to have this company. Tne company will be a benefit to all. Mr. Kerr, —You have heard the speech of the last speaker, and I say the only element wanting is truth. (Applause). You are asked to tolerate a Bill of which these two gentlemen are prominent shareholders. (Loud applause). It has been asserted by these gentlemen that I have been paid to oppose them. I say it is false. I say that nut a penny has been paid to the Natives. Arc those men to be allowed to use the public money for their own benefit. (Loud cheers.) I for one signed that petition. The petition has been signed by the public. Mr Rues has laid a snare. Hus he not said that he would make the fortunes of the Natives. This meeting has been solely called to give a color—a false color to to-day s proceedings 1 will ask the meeting to pass a strong resolution against the Bill. (Loud and prolonged applause) I will now put an amendment “ That this meeting strongly approves of the petition signed by the settlers against the Bill now before Parliament.”

Mr Gannon—-1 beg to say that you are being trapped like mice. The meeting is asked to prop this Bill up, but let ua see what the Bill is. I will only refer you to that clause, a clausa to tax ym: for their own pockets.— (Loud applause.) it does more than this —it is for the purpose of obtaining money without the public voice.—(Loud cries.) If this Bill is once pasaed it will not be repealed. Without going further I say that the Bill wan's to get public money for their own use. With respect to the petition, 1 say that, the petition is a fair exponent of public opinion. The petition sets forth the opinion of those who signed it.. Let the other side proceed in the same way, and get up a counter petition. It will b? mean and cowardly to censure the petition. I ask are twenty directors of the Company more signi Hrant than 300 settlers here, for that’s what it is. I declare there ara not so many land people in the petition ae in the Company. There will not be five people having anything to do with land on it. No —the petitioners are disinterested. This will make the petition a true one. Now all you have to do is to look forward for the next twenty-four hours, when the Bill will came on for its second reading in the House. At that time the New Zealand Native Land Settlement Company’s Bill would sea its dying hours. Again, the Company does not take any notice of this place for it only allows ua three directors. Ab I paid before the persons signing the petition are persons entirely disinterested. They are not a small landsharking clique, ne those of the Bill. I s\v the N.Z. Land Company and the Bank of New Z*aland arc practically one and the same I have much pleasure in seconding the amendment against the bill before Parliament, and this matter must be decided to be wired aw iy. Sydney Taiwhanga now addressed the meeting in a very able ano creditable manner. Mr J. McKay also addressed the meeting on matters totally irrelevant to the subject in question. Mr Filesaid he objected to the latter portion of the resolution—that there were many who have nothing to do with lan I who signed the petition. Mr Rees had asked who had signed it. He would reply, many : for he could point out about 50 or 60 in the room. That the resolution wished to put down the sentiments of the petitioners, and that they did not understand what they had signed. The Chairman now rose and u?ked if there was any other resolution or amendment to be put. If not, he would allow MrßeeHo speak. Mr Rees said Mr Gannon’s interpretation of the loth clause of the Bill was not a correct one ; that he was willing to put down £2O against £lO that Mr Gannon’s interpretation wss incorrect. With regard to the petition w‘.*o saw it ? (Voice I did). The petition was not deposited in a public place for the people to go and sign it. Mr. Gannon’s assertion as to the Bill being in a dying state is perfectly incorrect. That the petition docs not represent the feelings of this community. lam perfectly willing to take out the lines which Mr. File objects to in the resolution. Mr. File replied that ho would rather let it remain as it was. With regard to clause 6, which Mr. De Latour stated, crept in by mistake, it gives power for the Company to buy land direct, and which tho Company does not require to do. (Hisses). Mr Gannon said Mr Rees had turned the Roads and Bridges Construction Act in’o the Gaming and Lotteries Act. Ho had laid a wager that my interpretat ion of the 15th clause was wrong, but that his was right, that he di I not know prof«*»s;<>nal advice could bo obtained so easily. With reference •to the Bill, I say if it becomes law, then you lay ilourselves open, for then Jthe company will be a local body, and therefore can tax and levy rates, &e.,on you, and so you will be bound to supply their demands. [Cheers and great applause]. The Chairmen then read the resolution and amendment. On a show of hands being called, the amendment wa< unanimously carried. Mr Gannon proposed that the result should be telegraphed at once to Wellington, and the motion was carried. A vole of thanks to the chairman terminated the proceedings. About four to five hundred were present at the meeting.