MAORIS FOR LONDON.

Press, Volume LIX, Issue 17756, 7 May 1923, Page 13

MAORIS FOR LONDON.

PROPOSED EXHIBITION PARTY. In reference to a cablegram which appeared in New Zealand papers last week, announcing the disappointment of tho High Commissioner at the decision of tho New Zealand Government to send Maoris to ply with their canoes on the Exhibition lakelet, it was ascertained in tlie Wellington "Post" on Saturday that a wrong impression may be gained from the cablegram as to the actual decision arrived at.

From the first announcement that an Exhibition was to be held, several applications were received by the Dominion Advisory Council for permission to organise troupes of Maoris to provide native entertainments at the Exhibition and to participate otherwise. In some cases the applicants desired to act independently as private showmen, and in othors Government assistance was applied for. The matter was dealt with exhaustively by the Advisory Council, to whom it was delegated by the Government, and the Advisory Council asked a special sub-committee appointed to submit tlieir views. That sub-committee consisted of Dr. P. Buck, Messrs Elsdon Best, H. It. H. Balneavis, J. McDonald, Johannes Andersen, A. Seed, and Skinner (of the Otago 'Museum). The su,b-committee, on the motion of Dr. Buck, seconded by Mr Elsdon Best, passed the following resolution unanimously:—"This committee is strongly opposed to the idea of a troupe of Maoris being taken to the Empire Exhibition from purely the showmen Doint of. view. If it is desirable to send Maoris to display the Maori arts and crafts, the personnel of the party should be carefully selected. Those in charge should have the full confidence of this committee and other leaders of the Maori race." The view of the committee was that experience in the past of' such enterprises had not reflevted credit on the Maori race, and that was the feeling of the leaders of the native people. This resolution was submitted to the Advisory Council Executive, and was confirmed,* and similarly, when submitted to the Government, received official accord.

The position regarding the suggestion to send Maoris to ply their canoes on the lakelet is somewhat different. No information on this matter has come to the executive, nor has that body been made aware that canoes will ply tbereon. The view taken of the matter by the Council was that probably, the Exhibition authorities would be having displays, consisting of native canoes from all portions of the Empire: that these canoes would carry passengers, and that revenue for the Exhibition would be obtained therefrom. That bein <r so, the enterprise was a matter entirely for the Homo Exhibition-autho-rities to arrange through the respective Dominions, and since no information could be obtained in regard to the matter from that end, the step meanwhile was taken of adherens to the recommendation of the sub-committee as -:tated above, and not to agree to independent troupes for private profit being sent from the Dominion.