Mr O'Shea Holds Maoris Are Being Used Politically

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28936, 2 July 1959, Page 18

Mr O'Shea Holds Maoris Are Being Used Politically

(New Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON, July 1. “In my opinion, the inclusion ot Maoris in the team to visit South Africa was a question of manners, rather than morals, and good manners are about as much in evidence in New Zealand today as are good morals,’ ’ said Mr A. P O’Shea, general secretary ot Federated Farmers, today when he addressed the Khandallah branch of the National Party. “After all.” he continued , if we are making up a partyto visit someone, and we know that the presence of certain people will embarrass the host, we don t get into an argument about it. it you have good manners, you just don’t include the particular people in your party.’ There were greater issues before New Zealand than the question of sending Maoris to South Africa, Mr O’Shea said. Training college students who would be educating the children of the future had marched on Parliament, after being warned

that a procession was not p*rl mitted. The Prime Minister kadi then talked to them. The polk- 1 had been assiduous in carryall out the law in other directK but there had been no proseeu,! tions in this case. Mr O’Shea also referred to n. ports of immorality as revealed i in a Napier Court case and the fact that Maoris supplied a Isrjjj percentage of those wanted bj the police. “But what can we expect whea, the politician is unwilling to take action in connexion with youq people, if he feels it may lot, him a vote?” he asked. ‘‘Howl many people who are trying to rriake use of the Maori in the present controversy really give a damn about the Maori? The truth is the Maori is being played with for political purposes. “How can we expect young people to behave decently and to have a respect for law when we, in this country, are more interested in telling other people how to behave than putting our own house in order?”