THE CLAIMS OF THE MAORI.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 73, 16 March 1908, Page 2

THE CLAIMS OF THE MAORI.

BREACHES OF THE TREATY o: .WAITANGI,

PETITION TO THE KING.

Per Press Association.

Wellington, Last Nighl

The petition of the northern Maoris to King Edward, an outcome of the conference at Waihi last year, will be discussed at a Maori meeting at Walmroa this week, when Lord Plunket will lie present. The petition states that the laws made by the Government of New Zealand are trampling upon the covenants and contracts granted to the Maori people by the Treaty of Waitangi, aad the Constitution Act of 1852, and the Maoris are becoming destitute owing to the Maori land laws now in force. The pre-emptive right agreed to in the Treaty that the Crown alone was to buy Maori lands was abrogated (or surrendered) by Governor Fitzroy, and subsequently further abrogated'by the many laws of the Parliaments, and therefore it would never be just for the Crown to resume the said pre-emptive right without the consent of the Maoris. After quoting in detail the legislation objected to, the. petition asks for an inquiry to ascertain why the Maori land has been confiscated, and what benefits (revenue derivable) from thermal springs owned by Maoris should be justly disbursed. It is- urged that the lands taken under the laws referred to should be rotored to the owners, also the "mana" over such lands. The income or revenue collected under the Maori Township Act should l> e paid to the Maori people whose lands were taken for the townships. It is asked that_ various laws be amended and their administration stopped until good arrangements can be arrived at between the two races.