Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1898-05-09
SOUND ADVICE TO MAORIS
Premier Seldom Tells Them to Hold
Lands as Their Life.



between Premier Seldom of New
Zealand and leading natives of
that country, at which the Pre-
mier talked large amount of
strong sense to the interesting
people,. As the Maoris are kin
dred in race and speech to the
Hawaiians, there is much in Mr..
Seddon's address Of value to be
taken to heart by the natives of
these islands. He is thus report
ed in the New Zealand Herald:
In reply ing to the address and
speeches, Mr.. Seldom, who was
listened to with the closet atten-
ton, said the meeting that day
marked an epoch in the history
of both races, and for the good of
the colony. (Hear, hear.) There
bad been troubles in the past, but
they would be ended that day.
He trusted the result of their deli
berations would be the establish
meDt of a pleasant state of things
and give to the natives that bappi
ness which the Creator intended
for his creatures. He spoke of
other meetings with the Maoris
held recently, at which the Gov
ernor was present, and stated that
His Excellency bad expressed re-
greet that he was not present at
that gathering. The earnest de
sire of the Government was that
the native race should be pre-
served and their interests protected.
How could that best be done2
The Premier then referred TO the
early meetings and difficulties, aud
spoke of the Treaty of Waitangi.
the departure from provisions of
which was responsible for good
deal OF the Maori trouble. They
had parted with their lauds. He
was not going to say who was re
sponsible for the departure from
the articles of treaty, but while be
admitted that in some respects
Parliaments had been to blame,
he fault did not lie solely with
them. The natives themselves
we're to blame, but 80 far as Civ
ing the natives power to govern
themselves, he had such lengthy
dealings with native land matters
that he could not hold out any
hope that the Parliament would
pass such a measure. 1t was ne
cesssry that the natives should be
protected from themselves, and
10 the Bill, which it was
intended to introduce, every
safeguard for the protection
aud benefit of the native race had
been Included. They bad now
about l5,OOO,000 acres of land, and
be could Assure them that il they
proceeded on the old lines, aud
dealt with their lsrds in the fu-
ture as they b I'd done in the past.
they would find themselves land
less, and the result would be the
absolute ex termination of noble
race. Without LAID they could
not live. Land to them was life,
and that being 80, it wa- their
duty to retain and cultivate their
lands, and hand them down to
their children when they died. |
He blamed them for parting with |
their lands. Their forefathers
had worked and TILED the land, but |
what bad the present Msoris donep
Had they not eaten the bread of
idleness ? With racing and |
pleasure, and eating and drinking, /
things had come to such a pass
that Government stepped in and
said that they would save the
Maoris from themselves. Know,
ing all this the Government could
not agree to the natives having
supreme control over their lands.
He referred to the measure which
it was intended to introduce, if
the Maoris wished it. If they did
not, then the Government would
allow things 10 remain as they
we're at present, aud that meant
hat in a short time their land
would be gone, aud thai the race
would be extinct. Mr.. Seddon
hen gave an outline of the
measure which would be intro