MAORIS IN CONFERENCE.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 8439, 10 May 1907, Page 5

MAORIS IN CONFERENCE.

~ PROTRACTED PROCEEDINGS. BIG FOOD BILL. By Telegraph—Press Association. s v AUCKLAND, May 9. Much disgust is expressed by many •of the tribes at the protracted proceedings at Huntly. With the object of bringing matters to a head a committee of eighty, comprising members of the thirteen tribes present, has been formed to consider the various reports and arrive at .some definite conclusion. Mr Mangakahia states that a similar meeting was organised by .himself fifteen years ago, when a union was formed, and over 3,500 .Maoris signified their assent to a petition previously referred to. It was ignored by the New Zealand Parliament. It was now proposed to send a similar petition, and, should -the Parliament again ignore it, the Maoris would approach the Home ■Government by a deputation. A • definite conclusiion should be arrived ..at shortly. The Ngapuhi representatives have taken no part in the discussion, but they strongly exhort the to worK their lands if they want to hold them. Mr Kaihau's proposals that they . should revert to the manner of thenancestors are disparaged by other Maoris, who urged that they must now look forward and not backward The whole Maori trouble has its origin in laziness. The Maniopoto representatives assert that the meeting is not representative, because, excepting the Arawas, all those present are under Mahuta, and that there can be no unity without a conference of the ■whole of the Maoris being represented. The Herald correspondent states that some idea of the quantity of food required may be formed when it is stated that the daily expenses for bread and groceries alone average £96, 26 cases of ship's biscuits, 700 41b loaves, 12 bags of sugar, and 401b of tea being consumed every day. Up till Wednesday night almost 100 tons of potatoes, 1! tons of pipis and mussels, 18 tons/>f kumeras, 40 bullocks, and 20 pigs have been accounted lor, and all this exclusive of edibles bought at the temporary stores on the ground, all of which . appear to do a big trade.