EATING NATIVE LAND.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 7, Issue 184, 12 April 1915, Page 8

EATING NATIVE LAND.

An extraordinary letter came before the last meeting cf tiie Mangonui County Council. Mr Tau Henare, M.P., wrote to the Council in regard to rates on Native lanes, asking for a su.suensicn of operations till Parliament met, since he considered that there was a possibility cf the Rating Act being so amended- that the clause giving local bodies power to charge | the Natives rates would not longer opera? e. Councillor Wrath a!! at once took strong exception to the reguest. The letter, ho said, was an extraordinary one, and would be viewed with profound interest throughout the Demini lon. Was it possible that Mr Tan ITanaro, whoso vote meant so much to the party in power, expected to be in a position to dictate a policy affeM-ng the whole of the Dominion? Mr Hassjey was already claiming Mr rtenars r.s a supporter. Mr Tla;mre kne " hew much his vote meant to Mr Massey. | Could it moan that Mr Kona re was going to. demand in return for Ms vote exemption of Native lambs from loca.i bodies rating? If so, what cf the Massey Party’s Reform policy,, which aimed so strongly at placing the Maori on just the sarng piano in this respect as the European. What now about the equal burden, of citizenship? Were the white men only to bear the cost of roads and bridges running for miles' ■ through Native lands? It would h*i indeed interesting to know just what Mr Tau Uhnare’s letter meant.