AN INTERNATIONAL MATTER

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 210, 14 December 1910, Page 3

AN INTERNATIONAL MATTER

One of the matters which necessitates the presence in London of the AttorneyGeneral (Hon. Dr. Findlay) is the claim of half a million brought against the New Zealand Government by the American nation, on behalf of the relatives of a pioneer settler, William Webster. This claim has been a matter of.international | i communication for a number of years, and has now taken definite shape. The main difficulty that presents itself is, that so far as the one issue agreed to be referred to the international tribunal, which will-sit either in London or Americ.., is the narrow one whether the claim is barred by the convention between Great Britain and America, which purported to extinguish outstanding claims at that time. The advocates of Webster's claims contend that his was not an outstanding matter at the time of the treaty. This fact, it is felt, is not satisfactory standing alone. The stronger ground in favor of New Zealand is that Webster submitted his claims to the New Zealand tribunal which was set up after the proclamation of independent government for the colony. In fie New Zealand Gazette of that

time, there can lie found sot out at length the boundaries of the lands in the Coromandcl peninsula claimed by Webster and the slender consideration paid to) the native-, for them. TVel>-=tii'*s c-lsiims 1 . were adjudicated noon by a New Zealand court .sixty years ago. and the Dominion's j representative before the international commission will endeavor to raise the j point. Webster's ease has f'oiin.l slron™ political support in the United States, | as can be seen from the reports of the, Senate more than once. The convention will be set up immediately with the matter, which, involves many intricate questions of sovereignty and its ■effects. The main ground on which Webster's lawyers rely is thai he acquired areas of land from the natives before British sovesaighty "was declared over this country, and. that he :»fth..-;;&T,,=Qn* ..whoso