THE MODERN MAORI.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2095, 22 January 1908, Page 3

THE MODERN MAORI.

SIR ROBERT STOUT’S OBSERYASIR Xvi TIO NS. Tt E present” anjd the FUTURE. (Spocial to Timos). WELLINGTON, Jan. 21. Tho Cliief Justice, S,ir Robert Stout, Chairman of tho Native Lands Connniiisiou, is not one of those who believe that the Maori is necessarily doomed, just because the Maori is Maori unci' the pakahn iis pakclia. It is Sir Robert's strong faith that the Maori is a worker and no shirker, if he is properly advised and encouraged. Ever since the Commission went on its pilgrimage, the Chief Justice lias beeu helping to re-mould public opinion or tlie subject of the Maori, and he has not yet finished his crusade of enlightenment, though hampered by litigation. When he returned to-da.v Iron; a tour til -ough the Gisborne district , tiie East Coast further north, and Rotorua Sir Robert was asked by a represen 'ative of the Post for Ins observatioi s of the country. Wluit may be rermed the Cook County, ho said, has suffered from prolonged litigation for the past twenty or thirty years over native lands, and the control of most of the lands that, are native 'lands still has passed from tho natives into the hands of throe distinct- hoc ics, first—a receiver under the Validation Court, second—a trustee under.tho East Coast Land Settlement- Vet-, and third—tho Maori Land Bor rd. Perhaps as a result of this prolonged fighting about tlieir lauds in the Native Land Court, the Maoris seem dispirited and overshadowed, mu lack that initiative and sclf-relian -e that are present in many other districts. They seem in fact at present- hopeless, and need rousing

for industrial exertion. They have very little! land outside these three ■tracts- wlii'di are out of their control, and in my opinion steps ought to be taken by these three bodies to get them settled on the lands speedily. but we wi'U deal with these in our report, wliqn it ds ready. I may add that the titles to these blocks are not all clear even now oh the progressive East Coast! As to the East Coast proper, that is, the Waiapu County, tho state of the Maoris is exceedingly satisfactory. They have since ISB9 been sheepfarming, and on the whole have been very successful. They have worked, and arc working, on a co-operative principle. Individualisation in many instances was hopeless, and would have been absorb, as the number of owners to the block was so large that if the block had been individualised no owner would have got a sufficient- area for sheepfarming. They have now on many of their blocks good stock, suitable buildings, and well-fenced areas. Their woolshods seem to me to bt better than the average European woolshed, and they linvo up-to-date machinery. There is also amongst the younger men an intense desire to become expert fanners. Another pleasing feature is tho love for education that seemed to be diffused amongst the community, and they are going to start a nursing home, etc., to help those who require assistance They have also about 200 miles of telephone wire connecting their settlements, which they have erected at their own cost, and t-lir telephones are managed by their owr people. They aro all anxious to be come good settlers. A new kind of local option has been suggested tr them which they are considering, namely, that- they should have powei to vote for the prohibition of the sale of liquor to Maoris. This will not affect hotels, but if the vote were carried, then no publican could sell any liquor to Maoris. A great portion of tlieir 'land is still under native title, namely about 150,000 acres, and until the title has been ascertained nothing definite can bo done regarding that area of land. The Native Land Court is, however, going to sit there next- month and deal with it, when it is expected that a considerable area of this land will be set aside for European, settlement. A great deal of land is under lease to Europeans, in fact the area occupied by Europeans excels tho area occupied by Maoris in the event of including the Papatupu blocks Further, the 'lands that the Maoris have are mainly' what may bo called ( ‘coastal lands.” On the suggestion of Sir Donald McLean, they gave tho interior lands to the Crown, and the Crown acquired very considerable areas in the Waiapu County. The Maoris supply all the labor for sheepfarming, not only for themselves, but they arc employed by some Europeans as shearers, shepherds, etc. They seem very attentive to their work, for instance several attended tho Commission, having ridden al'l night, and asked that their matters might bo attended to first, so that they might bo enabled to get back to their work at once. I have every' hope of the ultimate, success of the Maoris in farming in this district. In fact they have proved that they can farm just as well as Europeans. I may add that the whole appearanee of tlieir settlements shows that they are- living in comfort, and just as well as European farmers. 1 see a great change in the Maoris since I knew them first; they are better dressed, bettor housed, and seem to pay more attention to their health, and are more alert, mentally especially. The young people there givo a weekly entertainment of music, song, and games, under the management of the Rev. Mr. Bennett, that would, I am sure, bo popular in any of the cities of New Zealand, they aro fine musicians, and their entertainment is certainly first-class Mr. Bennett has been of great service to them, and is really a leader amongst them He is himself a half-Aran-a. and it is leaders like him that we must have if the Maoris are to acL vance. Ho has erected a mission hall at Ohinefnutu, in which these concerts are held, and he himself takes part in them. In consequence of the titles not being complete, the Commission will have to visit Rotorua foi a short time again, as soon as the Land Court has finished its work. The actual sitting of the Commission is not tho whole of the work that toe Commission has to do, concluded Sir Robert, answering a final question. In order to complete their reports, considerable time has to be taken to get information, and to cnretully collate it We hope to send in our report on Waiapu at once, and we nie getting the reports prepared. vie have to sit in Napier early in I'chniary, on the 7tli, and deal with the Waimarnma block. Then as soon as it is over wo go to A 1 angaliui, and then on to the King Country in pursuance of the Native Land Settlement Act, which requires us to push on these matters. In consequence ol the law passed, half of the Maori land not required for occupation is to 1)0 leased and the other half sold. ■When we have done the King Country we will need a break ol a fortnight, perhaps, to got these reports finished, and then we intend to go north to Auckland.