Second-Reading Debate On Waitangi Day Bill

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29334, 13 October 1960, Page 16

Second-Reading Debate On Waitangi Day Bill

(New Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON, October 12. The Waitangi Day Bill, providing for the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi on February 6, 1840, to be commemorated as a national day of thanksgiving, added nothing to what was already happening, Mr D. N. McKay (Opposition Marsden) said in the House of Representatives today during the second-reading debate. The day was already recognised in many ways, he said. The Labour Party manifesto in 1957 said that the party would commemorate the signing of the treaty by declaring it a public holiday. Mr McKay said. That promise was taken by the people to mean they were to have an extra day’s holiday every-year, but the bill permitted certain localities to substitute Waitangi Day instead of the provincial anniversary day as a holiday. Mr McKay said that the Labour Party used its promise as a means of buying votes in 1957. “In 1957 the member for Southern Maori made it clear that his people wanted another paid holiday,” said Mr McKay. “Was it because of this that he was omitted from the caucus that decided the Labour Party’s 1957 policy?”

Vote-Catehing Denied Mr T. Omana (Government. Eastern Maori) denied that the Government wjw using the bill to catch votes. “Nothing of the kind was in our minds.” he said. “The bill will be welcomed by the Maori.people because it gives recognition to the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi.” Mr P.B. Allen (Opposition, Bayjtf Plenty) described the bill ? s greatest piece of humbug broughfrijstfore the House. •Wy knewjhat it would cost a of money but they went ahead, and fltwnlsed ;t as a paid holiday.” be said. “As soon as the Prime Minister examined the cost he quickly, busk-pedalled. The bill is most attractively packaged but -zhen we open it we find that there is nothing inside.” Mts I. M. Ratana (Government Western Maori) said that it had been said that the Treaty of Waitangi would be better put into a statute, but a statute would be “*'2 ed ’“"seeding govern.So*ne Maoris believed “ u ‘\ the tre,t y was legal as far as they were concerned, but after the passing of certain acts of Parliament it was realised that it was not. They realised that tt was just a piece of paper. The

bill would be a mark of the trust that the Maori had in the Queen. The Minister of Forests (Sir Eruera Tirikatene) said he was filled with gratitude for the bill “The Treaty of Waitangi meant nothing in international law, and it was not even a legal treaty in the real sense of the word. Until the passing of this bill there has been no statutory recognition of the treaty.” he said. Maoridom after the passing of this bill will have an anchor and a foothold in this country." Mr Allen: Hut you won’t have Waitangi Day as a paid holiday. Sir Eruera Tirikatene: I’m making this speech. He described the treaty as the “passport to the Maoris’ feeling of equality.”

“With the passing of this bill the gate is open. It’s now up to those who feel tt should be a public holiday to say: This is a public holiday’.” Sir Eruera Tirikatene said Mr G. F. Sim (Opposition. Waikato) said it would be a mistake for Maoris to get the idea the Treaty of Waitangi was incorporated in Ney Zealand’s statutes by the bill. “It doesn’t do that at all.” he said

“Ne Confusion” The Prime Minister (Mr Nash) said he saw no confusion in the bill. It made Waitangi Day a day of thanksgiving because it properly warranted it. and it also gave opportunity, if agreement could be reached, to make Waitangi Day a public holiday. An anniversary day could be given up and Waitangi Day substituted by Order-in-Council at any time. “This is recognition of the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi. which warrants some permanent record in the destiny of this country.” Mr Nash said. The bill was given a second reading.