“Maori grievances”

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32563, 24 March 1971, Page 20

“Maori grievances”

Sir,—l appreciate the space given to my address to South Island Rotarians, but regret the actual reporting. I am usually fairly quoted in both Christchurch papers, but I think the reporter may have sincerely believed he heard me correctly. Had he asked afterwards, I could have let him see a copy of my speech. The offer still stands. I did not say that crime by young Maoris was due to poorer education and poorer opportunities than the pakehas. On Maori land I gave a historic background to Maori attitudes, changes in Maori land law, and powers of the Maori Land Court. I did not say injustices were suffered by Maoris through the Treaty of Waitangi. My only reference to the treaty was that we might say the second article of the treaty was the starting point in Maori land law. —Yours, etc., W. J. KAREITAI. Chairman, Te Waipounamu Maori District Council. March 22, 1971. [The relevant parts- of our reporter’s notes read as fpllows: referring to the Treaty of Waitangi: “1 haven’t time to recount the injustices of that and other occasions.” Referring to the Maori crime rate: “To me it has become like a death- toll . . growing uumbgrs of our people are youthful offenders... ..thepakehas have better education, better opportunities . ..” —Ed., “The Press.”]