Attempt to burn flag deplored

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32525, 8 February 1971, Page 1

Attempt to burn flag deplored

(N.Z. Press Association) WHANGAREI, Jan. 7. The attempt to burn the White Ensign from the Waitangi flagpole on Saturday morning would have been tantamount to a declaration of war in the old days, said the Minister of Maori and Island Affairs (Mr MacIntyre) when he addressed the Tai Tokerau District Maori Council in the afternoon. . Mr Maclntyre ignored his | prepared speech to speak i man-to-man to members of

the council after several interruptions. On his way to the meeting he shook hands with a Storm Trobper'outside the meeting house. Mr Maclntyre said the incident at the flagpole did not reflect the ideas of the true Maori. Any Maori in the services during the last war would know the significance of the flag. “What was done here today in the old days would have been tantamount to a declaration of war. I am sure the elders of the Ngapuhi are not looking for that. “For all of us there is a great responsibility to get together.” His words were greeted by cries of “hear hear” from the many elder Maoris present.

Mr Maclntyre said he was glad young people were there because they would learn that in some places “you do some things and some you don’t.” “To me it was a sin that the flag was pulled down today.” He said some claimed the Treaty of Waitangi should be ratified. This was something that should be talked out on the marae, and such discussion was not in place at a big ceremony. “There is argument all round. The canoe, New Zealand, is going through troubled waters. There are sharks and taniwhas rocking the boat. “It is very easy today to

tear something down—it is more difficult to build it up,” Mr Maclntyre said. It was not his task at the moment to say what should be done. Disruptive action would not be supported by the chiefs.

“If you want something done, it should be done in the traditional manner.” During Mr Maclntyre’s speech Miss Hannah Jackson, of Auckland, interrupted several times in spite of protests from some of the older Maoris. She was told that the Minister was a guest and if she wanted to speak she would be given the opportunity later. Afterwards Mr Maclntyre met members of the Tamatoa Council at his hotel.