The Daily News. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 5, 1902. NATIVE HOSTELRY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXIV, Issue 62, 5 March 1902, Page 2

The Daily News. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 5, 1902. NATIVE HOSTELRY.

The sitting of tbe Native Land Court bringing as it necessarily does a large number of Maoris, many of whom come from a long distance, Again brings into prominence tbe necessity of a native hostelry, in or near New Plymouth. Some time ago this question was warmly discussed, and there seemed a probability of its being solved in a satisfactory manner, but the difficulties in the way appear to have damped tbe ardour of those moving in the matter, the public lost interest, and tbe subject died out. The necessity is, however, »s great as ever, and at times like these, when there are large numbirs of natives attending the Land Court, considerable hardship is inflicted on many of them through the difficulty they often experience in obtaining tbe necessary accommodation. When it is remembered that the State holds very large sums of money belonging to the natives, awaiting the settlement of rival claims there should be no difficulty. The State is using this money, and when it is ultimately divided, we understand no interest is added, although it may have been awaiting division for years, It would only be fair for tbe State to pay interest on this money, and devote some of it to providing proper accommodation for the natives in suoh districts as this, The Borough and County Council might also be induced to contribute a small sum, if the law would allow them, and with voluntary subscriptions, which would doubtless ba forthcoming from both Maori and pakeha, a suitable building could be erected and maintained. It is certainly a jeprpach to us as a community that the state of affairs now existing should be allowed to continue, and we should like to see the matter taken up and vigorously dealt with without delay. Advantage could be taken of tbe presence of to many natives to diEcuss this matter with thsm, as their hearty co-operatioc in whatever h done should be secured. We learn that a number of natives attending the Lind Court have found considerably difficulty in securing accommodation, tnany of them haviug to travel considerable distances out of town. The accommodation obtainable is often of a very inferior description, and the young ppople are exppsed to temptations not calculated to imprqve their moral or social condition as d race.