Native Lands.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume II, Issue 245, 10 January 1889, Page 3

Native Lands.

PROMPT ACTION DECIDED UPON. At the Borough Council meeting on Tuesday, Cr Whim ay said he had read a letter published in that morning’s Standard, drawing attention to the way in which this district was being treated with reference to Native lands. He thought it was a matter for the Council to go into, and he would like to hear the Councillors’ views on the subject. It was a most important question and affected this district principally. He was quite surprised to see a lot of intelligent men continually going down to Wellington, and discussing the matter session after session, and then not being able to get it ou a proper footing. The Government appeared to be starving the people out by their legislation. What was wanted was free trade in Native lands. All the Government were now doing was killing the colony, aud more particularly this district. He considered that proper representations should at once be made to the other local bodies, and that they should combine in bringing the matter before Parliament. Cr Lewis endorsed the remarks of the last speaker. He would suggest that the Mayor call a public meeting in conjunction with the County Council and Harbor Board to consider the question. The only way they could get a proper footing with the Natives was to have free trade in Native lands, and he considered some steps should be immediately taken to have a public meeting, which would be far better than any resolution they could pass. The Mayor considered a public meeting quite unnecessary, as it only resulted in the same way. Motions were passed and forwarded on to Wellington, and that was the end of the question. If they forwarded a resolution in conjunction with the County Council it would have greater effect. He moved, “ That this Council desires to represent to the Honorable the Native Minister the urgent necessity which exists and has existed here for many years for a continuous session of the Native Land Court for the purpose of disposing of the numerous oases of long standing which have been so frequently adjourned, to the great detriment and inconvenience of the claimants, and of the district.” The Ministers knew very well what a public meeting was, and it was just the same as a petition which people signed without ever considering the matter. Cr Joyce said it was quite evident that Mr Booth had more duties than he could possibly perform, and he thought that some Judge should be appointed and have immediately put through the Court the land which had been lying idle for years. It appeared that some Judges did not care about pushing anything through the Court so long as they got their pay, for if a native without any reason whatever were to apply for an adjournment, it would be granted without the Judge ever considering the matter.

Cr Whinray said it had been a matter of great surprise to him to see the way the thing had been muddled from time to time, much to the detriment of this district. At the present time of depression it was a great hardship to the Natives, not being able to deal wish their lands. He considered the legislation was a disgrace, as no person was allowed to deal in any lands with a hapu of over twenty natives. He would secund the motion, as they should have a joint representation. Cr Coleman considered that this course was the best, as it was not an opportune time to call a public meeting. He would like to see a continuous sitting of the Nat ive Land Court in Gisborne until all the business was transacted.

The Mayor said that no provision had been made for the holding of a Court in Gisborne, and that seemed to ba the most cause of complaint. It was then agreed to communicate with the other local bodies on the subject.