Report on Petition of Wi Pere and Others.

Petitioners express an opinion that the Native Land Court Bill introduced during the present session will prove injurious to the Native race in many of its provisions if passed into law; and, after reciting the clauses which they consider specially bad, they pray that it may not be passed hastily or without full consideration.

I am directed to report as follows:—

That the subject-matter of this petition having been considered by the House, and the Bill in question withdrawn, the Committee do not think it necessary to report specifically on the merits of the various matters referred to by the petitioners; but the Committee are of opinion that, in view of future legislation on the subject of Native lands, the opinions expressed in this and other petitions of a similar character deserve the careful consideration of the House and the Government.

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[Translation.]
Ko te Kupu a te Komiti mo runga i te Pukapuka-inoi a Wi Pere ma.

E whakaatu mai ana nga kai-inoi i to ratou whakaaro he maha nga mate mo te iwi Maori kei roto i nga ritenga o Te Ture Kooti Whenua Maori e takoto mai nei i te aroaro o te Whare mehemea ka whakatuturutia hei Ture; a e whakaatu mai aua ratou i nga rarangi i kitea ai e ratou te tino kino, a e inoi ana ratou kia kaua e kaikatia te whakamana i taua Ture kia kana hoki e whakamana i te mea kahore e ata whiriwhiria rawatia e te Whare.

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

Kua oti te whiriwhiri te putake o tenei pukapuka-inoi e te Whare, a kua unuhia taua Ture, koia e kore ai te Komiti e whakaaro kia whai kupu ratou mo nga tikanga o nga mea e whakahuatia ana i roto i taua pukapuka-inoi. Engari e mahara ana te Komiti notemea era ano e hanga he Ture mo nga Whenua Maori me ata whiriwhiri marire e te Whare, e te Kawanatanga hoki nga whakaaro e whakahuatia ana i roto i tenei me etahi atu pukapuka-inoi e rite ana ki tenei.