TREATY OF WAITANGI.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 75, 18 March 1908, Page 2

TREATY OF WAITANGI.

MAORI RIGHTS.

ANOTHER PETITION TO THE KING

Per Press Association.

Wellington, Last Sight. The movement of the Maori people for a fuller recognition of their rights under the Treaty of Waitangi appears now to be more or less general. In

addition to the petition to the King which lias been prepared by the King Maoris, and which will lie discussed a Waharoa by His Excellency the Governor this week, the newly-formed Maori Association, which was inaugurated at Wanganui last month, has framed a petition to be presented to Parliament during the coming session. Translated, the text is as follows:

'•To the Honorable Speaker and Members of the House of Representatives in Parliament assembled—Greeting. Wc, the Maori peoples of New Zealand, residing under the inana of our father King Edward VI 1., being oppressed by the laws which are irmn time to time passed by your honorable House regarding our lands and our property, are gradually being impoverished thereby. From the time of the Treaty of Waitangi down to the present day your native peoples have resided together with, the Europeans and have intermingled with them. They have watched carefully and have learned the crafts and tlie agricultural and pastoral industries of the pakeha. They have also had the advantage of education at the schools and colleges established for them. We have now reached that period when all the disabilities and the differences between the two races should be removed from your Maori people with regard to their lands and their property. Therefore, wc now pray that tbe sole control and power to administer our surplus lands shall be granted to us the same as is granted to the other subjects of His Majesty the King." This document, which has been lying at the office of the secretary of the Association (Mr. C. It. Parata), has already over one hundred signatures of .Maoris representing all the tribes from Ngiipuhi to Ngailahu. Invitations are ! being sent out for a conference of dele- | gates representing; all branches of the I Association. It is to be held in Wellington during the first month of the Parliamontitrv session.