WEST COST RESERVES

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 284, 28 May 1912, Page 8

WEST COST RESERVES

SATURDAY'S SITTING. ihe Commission sat in iiawera on .Saturday morning, when Mr. Jiell commenced to call eviduiice in support of his case ior the natives. Tim first witness was Kahu Pukoro, who said lie knew of a union formed by tire Maoris, of which he had been appointed president. He at one time lived at Parihaka, He had land near Okaiawa, under the 1881 Act and 1892 Act, a small portion, 40 acres, of which was in his possession. The 4C acres was under occupation license. Mr. Bell: Are you. sure it is only 40 acres which you hold under occupation license?— Yes.

Have you ever leased the 40 acres to a pakelta ?—Yes, I did at one time. Why did you lease to the pakeha?— Because I had not sufficient money.

For how long did you agree to lease it?— The witness was unable to say. Hr got t' e land back the year before last. Did you have to pay the pakeha anything to get the land back?— Yes. What have you done with this land?— I have ploughed it. Put turnips in it. Asked how he got the money to cultivate the land, the witness replied by he | and his children working for the pakeha. 'He sold the land to a Mr. Patterson, who was a lessee under the 1881 Act.

Before Te Whiti and Tohu died, were there many Maoris who worked like you did?— When Tohu died l I turned round to work.

Are there many more like you, since the death of Te Whiti, turning round and looking for work?— Yes, all of us from Waitotara to the White Cliffs.

Are there many Maoris in your locality who are anxious to work, but have no land?— Yes.

For what purpose was the union formed?—So that we should be combined in our desire to get and work our land.

Are there any Maoris in your district who are working the land satisfactorily' -Yes. Did Tohu and Te Whiti encouragr farming?— Their advice to us was not this modern" farming, but farming to produce the' potato and grass for one horse.

j Has there been a change since they 'died?— Yes. Witness explained that the natives had since got to learn of th< I proper methods of ffi rming,

Proceeding, the witness said that in 15)09 representatives of the native race from Waitotara to the White Cliffs went to Wellington to see Sir James Carrol! in reference to wiping away the tear? caused by the Act of 1881. The Public Trustee was with Sir Jam«s Carroll, and the reply received was that their tear.' would be wiped dry. The witness explained that the Maoris wished to reduce the amount given for improvements because the fat had been taken out of the land by the pakeha.

Mr. Welsh: T understand him to sav that the pakeha should not be paid £.' but a lesser sum? Witness: £4 or less.

Mr. Welsh: That's his opinion?— Yes. Is that the opinion of the unionsYes, because we think that the, land has been impoverished. That was my opinion, endorsed by the union.

Over what lands under the Act of 1881 are you a beneficiary ? —Okaiawp and Motorangi. He added that he wa? unable to give any further information about that. What is the total area?—! am unable to say. I only know of the 40 acres, T told you of. The Reserves Agent said the area in the Okaiawa grant was 3582 acres, and that there were 134 beneficiaries. Mr. Welsh asked the witness if he desired to be placed in the same position as the pakeha to bid for the land?—l make the application and ask for thr land t» be returned to us. I Mr. Welsh: I want to know what you mean by "the land returned to us?"— 7 would say the 18.399 acres in the whole of the area, all the lands under the Act of 1881, so that there should not be one acre lost to us.

Do you propose that the Maoris shall hold the land from the Public Trustee and pay the Public Trustee rent?—We want the leases to be returned to us absolutely; that is, our lands given back to us.

I Then he does not want the Public Trustee to hold the land at all ? —No. ! Then I presume the Maoris will deal .with the land as they think fit?— Yes. I And they will divide the whole of the land under the Act of 188-1 among themselves in such a manner as they think fit?—We will allocate them and receive the money we are now demanding. Receive what money you are now demanding?

The witness did not give a clear replv and after some further questioning Mr. Wdsh passed on. He was understood to have meant in the course of his answer [that the natives desired the same opportunity of obtaining money from the Government as the Europeans bid. To Mr. Welsh; When they get these -lands back, 'how will thev sub-divide thern ?—Don't ask us h«'.v we shall divide amongst ourselves. Why not ? —Because we want to divide them in small or big portions as the different families shall decide. , They will borrow from the Government the necessary money to farm the land ?—Yes.

I suppose the chiefs of the people will make the decision as to how the lands are to be divided '—All of us will. There are no chiefs; we are all one. After some further cross-examination the Commission was adjourned until 11 o'clock on Monday morning.—Star.