PLACE OF MAORIS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 135, 10 June 1939, Page 16

PLACE OF MAORIS.

MUCH UNCERTAINTY.

PART IN CELEBRATIONS.

ACCOMMODATION AT WAITANGI. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Friday. The part to be played by the Maori people in the forthcoming Centennial celebrations was discussed at a meeting of the National Centennial Council.

There could be no doubt, said the Minister of Internal Affairs, the Hon. W. K. Parry, who presided, that the Maori demonstrations would form a notable feature in most celebrations. Sir Apirana Ngata said he had found that Maoris throughout the country were anything but warming up to the centennial, because of the indefinitencss of the Maori celebrations. They appreciated the position about Waitaugi, but they had a confused impression as to just where they were to fit in an regards the exhibition, provincial celebrations, local celebrations and even Waitangi. The Maoris felt that a one-day celebration in Waitangi was not enough. People were not going to travel from one end of the North Island to the other for that. A two-day celebration would co>t the Government more, but if would make all the difference. Sir Apirana said he had conferred with the exhibition authorities and the upshot was that he did not know now what part the Maoris were to take. The Sa moans would be there in the Fiji court, but he did not know about the Maoris. The Under-Secretary of Internal Affairs, Mr. J. W. Heenan. said that two days had been visualised for the Waitangi celebrations, ope specially for the Maoris, including the official opening of Whare Runanga. and also a day devoted to an historic celebration of the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi. One of the greatest problems of the celebration was that of the accommodaton. Visiting Maoris would camp with the Ngapnhi tribe, who would be thenhosts. Other accommodation was severely limited. Efforts were being made for ships to visit the Bay of Islands so that people could stay on board, but for those travelling by land accommodation was not only limited but alpiost negligible. Efforts were bein-r made tbrouih the National Accommodation Committee to interest people in surrounding districts so that accommodation might be available in neighbouring homes and farms. That field, however, was limited. Concerning Maori celebrations in other parts, apart from national celebrations, it was very largely a question of co-operation with the district centennial organisations. Potorua must be tbe scene of Maori celebrations, and in Girsborne during the Captain Cook c«lebr,itions it would be expected that the M"-'i- would olay a nrominent part. The National Maori Celebrations Committee would be holding another mooting as soon as possible.

"No more time must he lost." said Mr. Heenan. "in seeins that the Maori people take part in the centennial not merely a~ part of the general population of New Zealand but also as the Maori race. Tliev should be given due place in the celebrations, particularly in those localities where they form a considerable part of the population."