Report on the Petition of Wi Hakiro and 336 Others.

Petitioners pray that Maoris be allowed to sit on juries, that all the laws be translated into Maori, that the number of Maori members in the House of Representatives be increased, and that greater facilities should be given them for the purchase of gunpowder.

I am directed to report as follows:—

That, in reference to the right of Maoris to sit on juries, the Committee are of opinion that "The Juries Act, 1868," makes ample provision for the existing state of things. These provisions had not however been brought into force, and cannot be brought into force until the Governor, in exercise of the powers vested in him by the Act, shall make certain rules and regulations. The Committee recommend that the provisions of the Act should be put in force, and Maoris be admitted to sit on juries in the limited number of cases specified by the Act.

The petitioners also ask that the laws should be translated into Maori. The Committee cannot recommend compliance with this request to the extent asked, but they are of opinion that all laws specially affecting Maoris should be printed in the Maori language, and be widely circulated amongst the Maori people.

In reference to the demand of the petitioners that the number of Maori members of the House should he increased, and that greater facilities should be given for the purchase of powder, the Committee consider that these are questions of policy upon which they are not called upon to pass an opinion.

[Translation.]
Te Kupu a te Komiti mo runga i te Pukapuka-inoi a Wi te Hakiro me one hoa 336.

E tono ana nga Kai-inoi kia tukua nga Maori kia noho i roto i nga Runanga tekaumarua (Huuri), kia whakamaoritia nga Tare katoa, kia whakatokomahatia nga mema Maori ki roto i te Whare o nga Rangatira i kowhiria i runga i te pooti a te Iwi a kia whakangawaritia ki a ratou nga ture mo te hoko paura.

Kua whakahaua ahau kia ki penei atu ki te Whare:—

Mo runga i te tikanga kia noho he Maori ki roto ki nga Runanga tekaumarua (Huuri) e whakaaro ana te Komiti kei "Te Ture mo nga Huuri, 1868," tetahi mana mo te ahua o taua mea inaianei. Ko taua tikanga kahore ano i whakaotia tuturutia a kahore e taea te whakaoti engari ma te Kawana i runga i te mana kua hoatu ki a ia e taua ture e hanga i etahi tikanga whakahaere. E mea ana te Komiti he mea tika kia whakahaeretia te mana e tau ana ki te Kawana i runga i taua Ture kia ahei ai page 4te whakauru i nga Maori ki nga Runanga tekaumarua (Huuri) mo nga ahua whakawa e whakahuatia ana e te Ture e uru ai ratou.

E tono ana hoki nga Kai-inoi kia whakamaoritia nga Ture. Kahore e taea e te Komiti te ki he mea tika kia whakaaetia tenei tono katoa otira ki ta ratou mahara me ta ki te reo Maori me tuku ki nga wahi katoa nga Ture e tau ana ki nga Maori ake.

Mo runga i te tono a nga Kai-inoi kia whakatokomahatia nga mema Maori ki roto ki te Whare kia whakangawaritia nga Ture mo te hoko paura e mahara ana te Komiti he mea enei e uru ana ki nga tikanga nunui kahore e tonoa kia whai kupu ratou mo enei.