P.M. emphasises peaceful prelude to nationhood

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33453, 7 February 1974, Page 2

P.M. emphasises peaceful prelude to nationhood

(New Zealand Press Association.' WAITANGI, February 6. The significance of New Zealand Day was emphasised by the Prime Minister (Mr Kirk) at the Waitangi celebrations today.

"Some other nations celebrate, on their national day, acts of violence, a revolution, a coup, or perhaps a war. But we have achieved our independence, our nationhood, gradually and peacefully,” Mr Kirk said.

“We’ve had no desperab revolutions as the focus o New Zealand’s day. W< remember no martyrs wh< fought to overthrow a tyran or to drive out an aliei power. “We were the luck; country,” said Mr Kirk “Others before our time ha< caused the Government o Great Britain to conside new ways and the genius o the British people has beei to learn from experienci and to -adapt.

“For us,” the Prime Minf lister said, “independence ; I was handed to us on a plate )!in the most friendly, gentlet manly. rational fashion. We i came to nationhood with no 'legacy of bitterness, no old r, scores to pay off. J “True, Maori and pakeha I. came to blows but there was f;also valour and honour and restraint on both sides. fl “We emerged from this i testing period with great >1 respect for each other,” he said.

Now we look to Britain, ito each other, to other coun- i tries, with respect, with friendship and with love,” iMr Kirk said. “We are born I in peace—and in peace and justice we shall deal.” i- It was hoped that by next, e New Zealand Day, legisla-l e tion arising from the White i- Paper on Maori Affairs would * ejhave been passed, said Mr o | Kirk. i d “You all know that the , Treaty of Waitangi was never a ratified, and I am not getting sjinto argument on the techd nical consequence if it was ratified now.” he said. si “A suggestion has been t made that the treaty be, e ratified except all those sections which could have a "(harmful effect on some: I (people. I “But it is a duty to honour I-the treaty and keep a I promise which was made rover one hundred years ago. , I “We have people working ■ I on it and 1 hope that when 1 I return next year the problem I will be solved.” ( Mr Kirk said that the Min- ( I ister of Maori Affairs (Mr i I Rata) had visited all the , I maraes and had listened to : I the feelings of the people, I Based on what he had heard, I he had begun to draft legisI lation. “When the Maori Affairs

Amendment Act was introduced, the greatest criticism was the lack of adequate prior consultations," Mr Kirk said.

This time, it would be taken to the people to let them fault it, he said.

Mr Kirk said the white paper on Maori affairs was at present being studied by the Maori Affairs Select Committee who would produce a bill which should be passed by Parliament some time this vear.