THE NATIVE LAND QUESTION

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2498, 11 May 1909, Page 5

THE NATIVE LAND QUESTION

DEPUTATION TO HON. A. T NGATA.

[Per Press Association!]

CHRISTCHURCH, May 10. At a deputation of Maoris to the Hon. A. T. Ngata, at Kaiapoi, to-day, the question of restriction against alienation of Native lands .in the .South Island was discussed. Several speakers, including Messrs Taiaroa and Urn, urged that the - restrictions should be removed, and that Maoris should be placed on the same footing as (Europeans. Other speakers strenuously opposed this idea. • They said that they feared tha\ if their lands were as free to be alienated as the owners might desire the South Island Maoris would, soon be absolutely landless. , The Hon. A. T. Ngata said that, v* many respects, the conditions in tlie South Island differed from those in the North Island. The reserves, exclusive of the provision made by the So-r-.n Island Landless Natives Act, were barely sufficient to maintain the grantees and their descendants: Even now a majority of the sections had been leased to Europeans and rents received were'mot sufficient to maintain the families. Many of the younger men and ■"’omen were' practically landless, and yet had the use of Hie land for, residence rent free. The"conditions and facts were interesting to the student of the Native land question. Both political. parties agreed that under any system of alienation sufficient land should be reserved for the. maintenance of the -Maori owners. There was a difference of opinion as to the extent of the reservation Southern conditions ■ raised a doubt whether the policy of _ r°serration was wise. ■ He thought that the South Island Maoris should submit, in detail, the position of their reserves and their views for the consideration oi the Native Minister. The facts might be instructive-and the deductions from them so clear ns to necessitate a'modification of the principles on which Native lands legislation was based.