PROBLEM OF THE LANDLESS MAORI

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 305, 16 March 1928, Page 13

PROBLEM OF THE LANDLESS MAORI

FOURTH EDITION

WAIKATO CONFISCATIONS KAMI GETS A PENSION Kami Punga, on the back of Waitohe, his mother, escaped from Orakau. Though only a toddler on that historic occasion, the old man still remembers the confusion that prevailed as he plunged through the swamps, clinging tightly to her shoulders. Times have changed. The vain dream of a Maori King has vanished. Like so many of his people who suffered at the hands of the Government for active partisanship, Kami Punga is now landless. The historic and fertile lands of the Waikato were confiscated by the victorious pakeha Government. Kami, who claims descent both from Ngati-Hinetu and the Ngati-Apakura, ipplied before Mr. Cutten, S.M., to-day for an old-age pension. Mr. George Graham, who appeared on behalf of the old man. explained that Kami was to all intents and purposes landless, and almost entirely without means. The land in which he was interested ,-it Kawhia. stfid Mr. Graham, had been -iven to Kami's people, following the Waikato confiscation, by other Maoris. The reservation had not been given them by the Government. Kami’s share amounted to about five acres. Waitohe, the mother of the applicant, was still alive in the Wairoa South district, said Mr. Graham, and it was estimated that she was over 90 y3ars of Kami is an illustration of the landless Maori who conies to the town." >,iid Mr. Graham, who explained that ms these people from the confiscated -reas came of age they had no alternatives but to apply for old-age pensions. Kami was allowed £32 per annum by the magi>‘r;i tc.