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Reports of the Native Affairs Committee, 1876.

Report on the Petition of Paurini te Rangiwhakarurua and 64 Others

Report on the Petition of Paurini te Rangiwhakarurua and 64 Others.

The petition does not complain of any particular grievance, hut suggests a number of alterations in the law, which, in the opinion of petitioners, are desirable and necessary.

The main points are that a legal status and legal powers should be given to the various tribal Committees to investigate land disputes and other similar causes of trouble.

They also suggest restrictions on the credit to be given by Europeans to persons of the Native race; alteration of the law of imprisonment for debt; of the law empowering the seizure of lands and goods for debt; and in respect of a number of other matters.

I am direct to report as follows:—The Committee do not consider the petition is one meant to be investigated by them, but rather an expression of the opinion of the tribe to which petitioners belong, in respect of a number of matters of public policy affecting Native interest.

The Committee, therefore, are unable to make any specific report on the petition to the House, but would recommend that the petition, with its numerous original and amusing suggestions, be referred to the Government for its consideration.

John Bryce,
Chairman.

27th September, 1876.