WEST COAST LEASES.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 219, 4 February 1913, Page 6

WEST COAST LEASES.

i:r.i :;esextati\'k native gather- i INCi. ripri-si-ntniiv;' molding of .Maoris \v:i- held ill. Waitara on Friday, iu disi;; . matters of importance to the > .ioi-is, Tin' meeting, wliiclx was held in a large marquee on Mr. Walter Hipango's property, was attended by some two hundred natives, including Mori l.'ukehika and oilier* from Waugauui; Marc Mare and others from Kangitikoi; Ki Kiiuik.i from Waitotara; To Oro Watihi. Jlanraki and others from Xgatimaniopoto: ami Te Kapinga. Takiora ami others from I'remii and Mimi. The Hon. Dr. Poniare (Minister in Charge of Native. Affairs) was also present Mr. Walter llipango welcomed, in fitting words, I lie visitors, and after the latter had replied, the lion. Dr. Pomarc gave an interesting address on native matters, occupying over an hour and a half. With regard to the 18.000 acres of the West Coast Settlements Reserve, which the Maoris are applying to have retained for themselves, lie advised them to form a committee and select proper persons to attend the ballot when the land was being disposed of. One'person might perhaps represent each hapn. If each individual attended the ballot on bis own. nothing would come of it. He strongly advised them to move quickly in the matter. There was no time to delay. At ins request, the disposal of these lands bad been held over for a year. This would give the Maoris opportunity to make arrangements. He bad. he said, been accused of doing nothing since he bad been in the house, but he bad done a considerable amount. For instance, he referred to the Native Land Board. This lie had been in hopes of abolishing, but owing to the action of some of the great chiefs in portions of the Dominion, be was not able to destroy ■ it altogether. He had, however, drawn ' over '2O teeth from the jaws of the Land 1 Board, and had also destroyed its main powers, which were detrimental to the 1 natives. Now. instead of the Board i having power to absolutely take the natives' land from them for ever, he had had a clause inserted whereby the natives could get their land back from the Land Board by applying through the proper channel, which he explained at ■ length. With regard to the action of the Public Trustee in connection with native lands, he told them that instead of 7% per cent, being charged for collecting the rents and distributing them to the owners, it had been reduced to 5 per cent. He bad already made an attempt to have the lands taken from the Public Trustee's control entirely, and placed under separate control, as the Public

Trustee had such a largo amount of business that he could not properly look after the natives' interests. With regard to finance, Dr. Pomare .stated that there should be a considerable amount of money now lying in the hands of the Public Trustee which had not been paid out to the parties entitled to it. In some instances, owing to tlie particular parties not making application for the same, and again in other instances the successors not being aware of what interests their ancestors held, through that ignorance they had not put in their succession application. If they were able to get hold of this money it would be of considerable assistance to the natives in procuring portions of the land about to put on the market. Then, again, the original owners of the land had never been considered when the estimates were framed. Let a man be a negro, a Chinaman, or any other nationality but a Maori, he was very much considered, but not so the original owners of the soil. This, the speaker said, he had made attempts to have rectified. Of course the Government had already been blamed because they had no money in the chest, but really they could not be blamed for that. He quoted several instances where, he alleged, money had been squandered by the previous Government.

The.,spoakcr strongly appealed to the , nativcs_to unite together for the betterment of the Maori race, in the same way as they had united for the sports which he had witnessed on the previous day. He urged the younger people particularly to follow the example of the Europeans. Some of them were very enthusiastic in football and other sport's, but lie wished them to be as enthusiastic for the betterment of themselves. They had now arrived at an age when those who had the ability could become as Europeans according to law whereby they could deal with their own lands and property as Europeans, could become ratepayers and take a part in local government matters. All this, he said, should tend to raise their ambition and improve them as 11 body. He distributed several copies of the report of the Commission that sat to enquire regarding the West Const, land.'!. In conclusion, ho wished them, when Parliament opened, to appoint certain persons to go to Wellington and attend to those' matters personally. He concluded: "Look over the matter fully, see that everything is as you wish it, lest I might overlook something of vital importance to you, and then the blame would be cast on mvsclf."

To Oro Watilii. of Te Kawau, near Tonnraporutn, voiced a grievance which he had against the Land Board regarding his land, whidi was taken deliberately by the Board without his consent. He had no desire to sell this land, nor bad he given authority to lease it, but had always lived upon it and was still m occupation, though the Board had taken it and had made no use whatever of it.

Rangi Tei TTenga, TTauraki, and oilers also endorsed the old man's remains, as their wives were placed in the same position on the same block of land. Dr. Pomare explained the course wnereby the land will be taken from the Board by Order-in-C'ouncil and referred back to the Native Land Court to deal with. He would then have power to deal witli (Ik. ] ilm i as i, n ( . lin , o _ •_ Walter llipango referred 'to the injustice done to the West Coast natives hv the Death Duties Act. He instanced several eases of , m tives who had sue•'•eded to hind, and the taxes placed upon them wer, far i„ excess of what the and would bear. One instance was cite,! W l,p r c a native had been charged I1„0 on seven acres in the Pell Block Mis net. When the matter wa.s put into us agent's hand, it was clearlv proved ha no death duties could be charged !«n that piece of land, as the £3(l would equal about 30. years' rent, and these elrarges were not levied. ■ ] r'; . Pom " r . c l»omisocl his support'in jivctifying tins evident act of injustice,. , Hie meeting was continued in'the 'evening. ■o m'° saitTu$ ait Tu' m entertained by Mr. Walter Hipango. All the food was cooked by steam in an up-to-date seam cooker being quite a contrast to 'the i,ld :i,..,- n -i hot-stone oven.