No. 138.—Petition of Hirini Taiwhanga.

The petitioner, who alleges that he speaks in the name of a Maori meeting, prays the House not to grant the prayer of any persons who may pray that the Maori dual vote may be done away with; because—

1.	Maoris are British subjects under the Treaty of Waitangi;
2.	There are 127 Europeans in the New Zealand Legislature, and only 6 Maoris;
3.	That the Maori census is not the same as the European census;
4.	That Europeans are increasing and Maoris decreasing;
5.	That manhood suffrage is proposed to be introduced, whereby the oppression above mentioned will be greatly increased.

The petitioner thinks that, when a third branch of the Legislature is established for the Maori race, the double voting power of the Maoris may be abolished, but cannot justly be done away with until that time comes.

I am directed to report as follows:—

That, as the subject of this petition will receive the attention of the House when the Electoral Bill is under consideration, the Committee do not think it necessary to make any specific recommendation thereon.