Native Lands.

Te Aroha News, Volume XXVII, Issue 43351, 18 July 1908, Page 3

Native Lands.

THE MAORI AND HIS WANTS

Speaking to a southern newspaper representative, Mr C. R. Parata, secretary of the Maori Association, appealed for better treatment of the Natives in connection with their lands.

tl I n districts where the disabilities tinder which most of the Maoris live do not exist,” he said, “ the Natives are engaged in agricultural pursuits, and are prosperous. I can mention instances of Maoris leasing land from Europeans for dairyiug. The land was originally Maori land ; it was leased to the pakeha, and the Maori sub-leased it from him at an increased rental. In one case, five shillings per acre more .was paid. some Natives had taken up Crown lands because the title was more flexible than that to their own lands, and they were doing well at sheep raising, etc.” The- reporter remarked that the ; Native Land Commission was dealing with the matter.

“ The commission,” Mr Parata said, “ is meeting the Natives partly, but it is making the Native a drawer of rent. Therefore, it is demoralising to him. He will loaf about until rent day, when he will have a ‘ blowout, and until next rent day he will k® penniless. The tendency would be to make him lazy, and he would deteriorate. He should work himself, and thus be- independent, bring out his individuality instead of leavipgvhim as part of a communistic system. Of course, there are ne'er-do-wells amongst the Maoris as well as Europeans, but the majority of them would do well if given the opportunity. Some Maoris have got on in spite of the restrictions, but they are marvels to do it, because, compared, with his pakeha brother, the Maori has carried restrictions on his back from which the pakeha goes free,” F 8 .

“ But the pakeha doesn’t think so,” interposed the pressman. “ It the pakeha was treated a tenth as badly as the Maori there would be a howl from North Cape to the Bluff!” replied Mr Parata.