NATIVE LANDS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2169, 20 April 1908, Page 2

NATIVE LANDS.

MAORI MEETINGS IN THE NORTH ADDRESS BY THE CHIEF JUSTICE. Press Association. AUCKLAND, April 19. Tho Hon. J. Carroll returned from his visit to the North on Friday, and interviewed by a Press reporter yesterday he stated that ho was favorably impressed with tho prospects of the country. He met a number of Maoris at the various centres, about 400 at Kaikoho and close on 700 at Kohukohu. “I may say,” he said, “that we had a very good time amongst the Ngapuhi, and they are a very _ fine people. I notice with satisfaction that the Maoris are evidently holding their own in the North. I never saw before such a large percentage of-well-grown young Maoris, men and fine, strapping lassies, as those in the kaingas of the North, and from the large number of fine, healthy children I saw in tho various kaingas, I am of opinion that the Ngapuhis -are not only holding their own, but are increasing in numbers. They seem to have -a lot of cultivation on some of their lands, and the men are engaged in the timber business or some other pakeha occupation.” The Hon. Mr. Carroll attended native meetings at Kialcolie and Kohukohu, and explained to the (Maoris the working of the Maori laud legislation -passed last session. The native meeting at Kaikolie was held in tbe open, and amongst those present were the members of the Native Lauds Commission, the Chief Justice (Sir Robert Stout) and Mr. A. Ngata

The -Maoris- asked Sir Robert Stout to address them, which be accordingly did. He said the .Maori raco hail decreased, and tho question was if the decrease was to go oil, or were the Maoris to rise in their strength and increase. Tho Maoris must answer that question for themselves, for no race could- be saved but by its own exertions. They must- be industrious. If a people were wealthy and brought up their children to do nothing, they died off. They saw that amongst tho Europeans. Maoris had been trained for centuries for an outdoor life, and if they wished to live as a race they should continue tbeir outdoor life, become skilful farmers, and make their land produce as much as Europeans did. Referring to the Native land legislation, and the obiect for which that nieetmg was being held, Sir Robert said that the Maori -race had now got to the parting of tho ways, and the question was whether they would lf o to left or the right. There was °a great pressure of Europeans all demanding land, not only Maori but also pakeha land when it- was held in large blocks, and thousands of acres of land had been taken by the Goveininent from the pakeha, the owners being, of course, paid. ' More land bad been taken -up that way than all the Bay of Islands county. Now most of t-liat land was cultivated, and the big pakeha owners said that the Government was taking land from them which was being . cultivated while leaving alone thousands of acres of Maori land with which nothin”was being done in the wa.v of rultiva° ti:r>. berefore it was that he urged M- -mris to utilise the land lest it be taken from them now. Thev wanted the Maoris to select- first the land they wanted for their own use lor papakuingas, and for farms, and they wanted the old -Maoris to put die young men oil the land, so that they might become skilled 'farmers. 7bat was the way to preserve their lands.