THE GOVERNMENT'S NATIVE POLICY. Cambridge, April 12.

Te Aroha News, Volume V, Issue 255, 14 April 1888, Page 3

THE GOVERNMENT'S NATIVE POLICY. Cambridge , April 12.

On Tucml.iv la-i the lion Mi Mitchel-on, Native Mini-i-i. Mi Lewi , I'miu Secie. I taiv Xatne IVpai tmcnt. M<ijoi Jackson, f M.H.U. roi \\ aipi, met tlu leading Kma.itfs ,ii Otoiohanga, the pimcipal chiefs piesent being Kevvi, Maniopoto, Wnlmnui, | Taoiuii. \Tcteu\ ot Mokau, and Oim->by j Wahanui -aid the matteis regarding which lie ui-hedto -peak to the Mini-te r weie— (l) The land law ot Mi Ballaneo ; j (2) the law as to the. iate» . (3) as to tliD puicha>e ot land l\\ the Ciown ; (4) a- to a telephone line being laid to Otorohanga : (5) that the nathe- nominate, a native station ma-tei to the railway station : and, lastly, that thi- name- ot the railway stations along- the line he collected. Ornisb\. who lollowed, -poke at length I on the native land law 3, saying that many j native- now de-ned that tin land should be i subdivided and lndmduali.-ed, taough the j native- m thi- di-tiict con-ideicd Ballanee's i Act a good one. It the Act wi- to be altciedf he hoped it would be in tlu(iireetion • — (1) That the Native Land ; Com t Act be ie-ad)u-ted, so that natives ma\ ea-ily bung claim- before the Com t, -0 that eaeli indi\idual mas get hi- own land (2) That an Act be pa-seel that no individual, either to (!o\ eminent or pi hate j pei -on. sell till it wa- known what hi* in teie-twa- When thi- i- done, let every man do what he like- with hi- land: but now the Act is ditteient foi those not adjudicated upon and tho-e that ha\e passed theComt. (3) The natives aic opposed to any luw\eis appealing in the Native Lands Comt ' Wetere, Hopa, and oiheis having spoken, Mr Mitehel-on replied. He said that after what Mr Onn-b% had .-aid he was satisfied that the natne legislation of next se?-ion would be satisfactory to the natives. The Covemment had decided to lepeal the Nathe. Land Admin i-tiation Act, and to leplace it with a law giving the Maoris contiolo\er theii own land- It would be provided that no sale of land could be alleeted until thiee month- after the land had pa-aed through the Native Land Court. Everyone might s-ell, and the only restiaint would be to .-cc that, e\eiy native had re-tainc-1 -uHicient for his own maintenance. It would £i\e tho^e who do not wi.sh to hell, the light to keep their land. The (ioveminent found there was a great deal of diiliculty aiound the Land Comt, and wish for the jid vice of the native- to frame a satisfactoiy Act, and would be pleased to lecehe sugge-ition- fiom native^. He had had some correspondence with Mr Orm-by on the ,-übject, and would endeavour to give eilect to some of his suggestions. The Covemment had conbideied the question ot lawjei.s appealing in Land Court', and would name the new Act to pie^-cnt thL-. In the new Act the Covu-nment would ictain the right to pur-cha-e lands betore Euiopean& ciuring the f.i-t three month.- atterthe land had passed thiough the Comt. The} would al-o endeavour to lepeal the Ciown and Native Lands Rating Act. He would bring the question of telegiaph extension before the Postmaster-Ceneial. He believed in retaining the native name- for all tailway .stations, and that the natives be consulted in the matter. Still, as the guards of trains would be Euiopeans it would be desirable that they shoiild be as easily pionounced^ as po--ible. He did not see that a stationinastei could be appointed here by the natives mile.-.- they would undertake the diilling and instruction of the person, as it was a veiy ie->ponsible position. If they wished for a native stationmaster, he would have to be -ent to the railway authorities to be trained. With respect to roads and bridges the Covernment would construct loads and bridges as the population increased. The state of the Kawhia Road had been brought under his notice by Major Jackson, and he had intended to consult Mr Hursthouse on the matter. He would consult with Mr McKerrow with a- ! view of ha\ing Mr Smith sent to Otoro- } hanga to receive the survey money, but as there was a dispute as to the boundary, he thought the principal parties interested shoufd meet Mr Smith here and discuss the matter. He would be happy during his stay to talk matters over with any natives desirous of seeing him, as the Government were desirous to make their native measures such as would meet the wishes of the natives, and all such measures would be sent amongst the Maori people printed in their own language. As regards the re- hearing asked for,° Mr Mitchelson explained that the refusal or otherwise by the Chief Judge could not be interfered with by the Government durir.g the recess of Parliament. The tact that the matter was before the Supreme Court was another reason why the Government should not interfere. Mr Ormsby thought that the Government pre-emptive right should be altogether done away with. This concluded the meeting. Mr Mitchelson subsequenely received several European deputations regarding road works. Mr Mitchelson proceeded to Alexandra yesterday, and invited Tawhiao to dine with him at Finch's Hotel. The King, however, was unable to come, and, as the Minister's business arrangements necessitated his proceeding to Rotorua to-day, the dusky potentate and the Minister did not meet.