MAORI FISHING RIGHTS

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 997, 13 June 1930, Page 1

MAORI FISHING RIGHTS

POSSIBILITY OF DAMAGE TO NATIVE SUPPLIES AUCKLAND REPRESENTATIONS j Strong objections are being made by the Akarana Maori Association to infringements of the fishing rights of natives, within the terms of the Treaty of Waitangi. The objections concern proposed restrictions on whitebait catching and the effect of speed motor racing on Ninety-Mile Beach. Last evening, members of the association discussed the limitations suggested on the taking of whitebait from the western rivers of New Zealand. A letter will be sent to the Marine De-r partment protesting against any legislation in view which will restrict the rights of Maoris frori* gathering whitebait for food, or even for sale., It will be pointed out to the department that, under section 2 of the treaty, the fishing rights of the Maoris were conferred. Laws limiting the rights of the Maoris were to be opposed, but the association would give its approval in the event of regulations which would prevent the wholesale taking of the fish. Whitebait-taking has been commercialised to an extent by the natives and considerably by Europeans, while many private hauls are made during the season. The methods of the Maoris in ancient times were not as severe as those in operation todjiy. It was necessary to make sure that reasonable numbers of the young fish were allowed to proceed up the rivers past the catchers, and so return later to the ocean to breed in normal numbers. The association contends that it is essential to observe the Treaty of Waitangi. RACING AT NINETY-MILE

Maori members of Parliament, Sir Apirana Ngata, Mr. Tau Henare, and Mr. T. H. Makitanara, are to be asked to consider the idea of the Auckland Automobile Association to develop speed motor racing on Ninety-Mile Beach. The Automobile Association v/as said to be seeking rights to arrange important racing events, and members of the Maori Association thought that there was a possibility of serious effects on the shellfish beds,

which formed a substantial supply of food for the native population in the Far North. Complaints were already coming from headmen of the Northern people.

Heavy motor racing is considered to be detrimental to the stock of toheroas, particularly. The young toheroas gradually travel across the beach from the land toward the sea, and motor - racing would destroy them. Another aspect was the danger to the public from speeding cars. The association’s opinion is that beaches, as public property, should not be given over, in as complete a manner as that sought by the Automobile Association, to a small section of the public intent on sponsoring motor racing.