TIKI GIVEN TO EMPEROR

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28927, 22 June 1959, Page 10

TIKI GIVEN TO EMPEROR

“Inference Without Foundation”

(New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, June 21.

Sir Sidney Holland said tonight there was already adequate legislation to prevent the export of historic relics which had been given to New Zealand museums. He was replying to criticism by Mr K. A. Webster, of his presentation of a Maori tiki to the Emperor of Japan. Mr Webster, an expert on Polynesian artifacts, is visiting New Zealand for talks with museum authorities. He said last week it was “highly undesirable that it should be possible for a Prime Minister or any other person to acquire such things.” Sir Sidney Holland said lhe gift of the tiki to the Emperor of Japan from the Government and people of New Zealand was arranged by the Department of External Affairs. The tiki had not been a gift to the Dominion Museum, but had been bought in London. “I understand that any Maori artifact which leaves New Zealand must first have the authority of the Minister of Internal Affairs and this authority was obtained on that occasion. The tiki was obtained from the Dominion Museum’s duplicate collection and with the full authority and advice of the museum authorities.

“The clear inference by Mr Webster that I. personally, obtained from a collection given to the Dominion Museum, a valuable tiki and presented it to the Emperor of Japan and that such collections as Mr Webster proposes to bequeath to New Zealand might be broken up. is without foundation in fact,” Sir Sidney Holla d said.