MAORI RIGHTS AND PRIVILEGES.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 8440, 14 May 1907, Page 7

MAORI RIGHTS AND PRIVILEGES.

' ' By Telegraph—Press Association. AUCKLAND, May 13. The Arawas, having reconsidered their position relating to the big Maori korero, have decided to remain on the understanding that the question of sending a deputation to England and its personnel is left in abeyance. The following resolutions were adopted as the basis of a document to be .signed by all members'of the Maori race:—"We, the representative rangatiras and delegates of all tribes scattered throughout the length and breadth of Aotearoa and Waipounamu do hereby agree \ to unite in one confederated body, so that this union will include all members of the native race, and we pledge ourselves to maintain and uphold all flhe rights and privileges en^ T joyed lay our race in the year 1824 V signalised by • the flag of 1836, and maintained until the enactment of the New Zealand Constitution Act in 1852." Mr Rawhifci, the chief secretary, displayed a coloured representation of the Maori national standard presented to the independent and confederated tribes of New Zealand by William IV., in 1834. He quoted from a letter signed by a friend and weU-.wisher of the Maoris, urging them to return to their flag if they did not get justice from the Parliaments New Zealand. It w,as no use should be made of the flag until the union was accepted by the majority of the native r<sw.e in both Islands of New Zealand, winea a great ceremony would 1)6 held for the purpose of unfurling the flag. The hope was expressed that the ceremony would be followed by beneficial legisliation, which Maoris demanded as their peculiar rights.