THE NATIVE LAND POLICY.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XVI, Issue 4944, 6 February 1895, Page 3

THE NATIVE LAND POLICY.

Tho followiug manifesto is from the Maori paper Huia:— A W'ARKIMi TO THE TIUIIES.

To nil the Maori people of NewZealand—This is a word of ours to you, men, women, and children. Cease to sell or lease the land. Neither pass it through tho Court, mibdivide, Bor define individual xl:arc3 from the commencement of the present. If you will be brave and patient for one year, then at last will you roap 6ome reward, inasmuch as the bad laws enacted by the present Government for the native people will fall. If the Maoris will only cease this land dealing then favourable legislation will eventuate. But if yon persist, then the sin, the murder, will lio on your own heads; you will bo destroying us all. You will then say, "Of what avail have these liutivo members been ?" quite forA getting that you yourselves baYC thwarted our efforts. In vain will he our fighting in the Parliament if you persist in bringing your lands beforo the Court, and death will come upon the tribes. Men, women, and children, we know the cause of your persistence in going to the Native Land Court. It is on account of your quarrellings and disputinga under the eaves of your own houses. You are a divided household, fighting one with another, Here now is something worth fighting for. Strive against these wicked laws that have been made to destroy our lands. We obtain not the sweet Bavour—the fatness of the soil. But when a just law has been enacted, giving us authority over our lands, then we may settle our own tribal difficulties and disputed boundaries under this measure, so that whan our offspring grow up and intermarry our lands will romain unto thorn. At present you fight against one another, and if you prevaillover your enemy yourland passes away to the Government, and you » obtain no advantage whatevor, owing to the evil laws created at tho desire of this Government. Friends-All of you who read this warning, do not cease to proclaim it to all the people. Wo will, if cir•cnmßtances permit, visit you in your own settlement, and speak on these matters, Our final injunction as that you will all assemble at flotorua during the ensuing March, ■there to consider what course to adopt. Do not be faint of heart, Do not allow yourself to be led astray, Sufficient. Signed— Wi Pebe, M.H.R, Bonn Te Ao, M.H.R, Hose Hike, M.H.R,