The Gisborne Standard AND COOK COUNTY GAZETTE Published every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday Morning. Saturday, August 22, 1891. NATIVE LAND BILLS.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume V, Issue 650, 22 August 1891, Page 2

The Gisborne Standard AND COOK COUNTY GAZETTE Published every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday Morning.

Saturday, August 22, 1891. NATIVE LAND BILLS.

Be just and fear not; Let all the ends thou aim’st at be thy country's, Thy God's, and truth’s.!

The public meeting to be held in the City Rink next Monday evening should be ranked as one of very high importance to the district. The time has gone by for paltering with the question which so seriously concerns this district. The activity on the part of the natives themselves in seeking to get legislation modelled in the way the chiefs desire is an example from which others may well take pattern. There unfortunately seems to be but a sorry chance of a reform in legislation this session, but energy on the part of the people of this district may ensure something being done. The trouble is that ‘h"aara sn many different opinions as to what that something should be. Por our own part we feel convinced that the placing of the power in the hands of Native Committees, or whatever they may be called, will only lead to corruption while human nature—Maori nature especially—is what it is, unless there are very goo safeguards. The Hon. Mr Cadman recognises this, and he will no doubt be strongly supported by those who have given thought to the matter. The destinies of the East Coast must never be entrusted to the will of a few chiefs whose loyalty to their people is measured by the restrictions upon the trap-doors o corruption.