WI PERE’S MAIDEN SPEECH

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 219, 26 August 1884, Page 2

WI PERE’S MAIDEN SPEECH

[from our own correspondent.] The following is a verbatim report of the maiden speech of Wi Pere, the Maori Member for the Eastern Electoral District in the House of Representatives on the Amendment to the Address-in-Reply :— I am a stranger to this House, but although I am a stranger I desire to say a few words. I uphold what the Premier stated with regard to the present Government being allowed time to develop their policy, and to see what nas been done by the late Government. I consider that great trouble has been brought upon certain people by the late Government, and that should be fully considered. Their yoke on the Maori people was far from

being a light one, and for that reason I think that the present Government should have an opportunity allowed them of developing their policy. If it is not a good one disapprove of it, if it is a good one uphold it, and if one member of that Government is not worthy of confidence have him replaced by a better man. If a division is now caUed for

I propose that myself and the Maon members shall not vote, because if we were to vote now, we would be voting in the dark. We have not yet been able to find out who are our friends in this House. We are all aware that great trouble rests on the Maori people. Consider the Native Minister—What he has done for us is not right. I thought in my simplicity that as he had been called Native Minister, he would be Native Minister for the Native people, and that he would endeavor to lead them in the right path and teach them to acquire prosperity. The Europeans acquire prosperity without being bereft of lands in large quantities. They acquire prosperity though they be not possessed of thousands of acres of land. The Maoris, although they hold a great deal of land, do not acquire great prosperity, and now, bei.ig strangers, we ask for your indulgence towards us. Do not let any rcvergcful though.B arise in your minds against us, but let us a’t meet together and do what is best for all, and perhups you will be able to show us some love by that course. I have many thoughts which I desire to give expression to at some future time, but my great wish now is that you will all unito in advising the best law for administering the balance of the lands now held by them. My desire is that the European and Government transactions with Native lands be stopped. The Europeans have made the laws relating to our lands, but let as now make our own laws, and we wilt then have only ourselves to blame. If a goc-d law is laid before us we will ag -ee to it. Soiae great matter is being sent to us from our own district, and you will in time be made acquainted with it, and I believe that in time good will result from it. If you get over this trouble which exists between yourselves, and give us time also, you will surely see the good that will come from it. It Is said that the Government possess 20,000,000 acres of hind which are not subdivided. Let the Government commence to place a population on those lands, and leave the Maories to dovise some means for utilizing the land which still remains their own. Leave it to a OMnmittee to decide the matter. Let each tribe decide what is to be done with their lands separately. We will then get what is ours, and you will be satisfying our desires. Anotier wish I have to make is that the speeches of the Maori members shall, m future, be translated into Maori and circulated amongst the Maori people. Don’t grudge the cost of having this done, for the bulk of the money is expended by all you Europeans. Members get £2lO a year each, therefore you cannot grudge a small sum for the purpose of circulating our speeches amongst our people. At present they are in total ignorance of the works carried on in this House, just the same as if they were in England ; yet this is called the Parliament of New Zealand, and I think the whole of the people of New Zealand should be made acquainted with what is done here. I have many other wishes, but I shall icserve them until another time. ?’l I now say is, let the present Government have an opportunity to develop their policy. If I now take a part in turning that Ministry out of office, what guarantee have I that a better Government will take their place? None. Theiefoie I say if a division is forced tonight, we Native members should not vote* Do not be angry with us on this point. My hope and my intention when I came here was that I should be a very humble personage, but that you would take compassion on me, and that you would help me to do right, and teach me to do it. (Applause.)