Chief praises P.M.

Press, Volume CXVI, Issue 34072, 9 February 1976, Page 11

Chief praises P.M.

(X Z Press Association) j AUCKLAND. A Taranaki chief, Mr Sonny Warn, congratulated the Prime Minister (Mr Muldoon) on his action in having the Maori "embassy” removed from Parliament, when the Prime Minister was welcomed to the Waitangi marae. Mr Waru said the group had completed what it set; out to do. drawing the attention of the Government to the grievances of Maori land, I Mrs Whina Cooper's' marchers had done their task with dignity and prestige, he said. Referring to Mr Muldoon’s

I statement some time ago about sending Maori offenders back to their maraes, Mr Waru said it would be good if the young Maoris in gaol (were sent back to their maraes for their elders to deal with. “Gaols will only make criminals out of them. We (will deal with them and teach them true Maoritanga,” he said. “We have to start somewhere. Why not at the gaols and clean them out.” Mr H. Te Heu Heu expressed his approval of the i intention of the Government |to rename the day Waitangi Day. ' “I think this approval for ; Waitangi Day is shared by the majority of the Maori people.” Accompanied by Mrs Muldoon and the chairman of the Tai Tokerau District Maori Council (Dr B. C. Gregory), (Mr Muldoon was given a .traditional Maori welcome to khe marae. Behind him were the Minister of Maori Affairs (Mr Maclntyre) and Mrs MacIntyre, who Mrs Whina Cooper had met at the entrance to the marae grounds to walk in with them The chairman of the Maori Council (Mr G. S. Latimer) presented Mr Muldoon with a special stick called the Wero O Te Iringa that had .belonged to the late Mr Andy Moon of Kaikohe. The Prime Minister assured the Maori people that al-

ii though they had not put a! i National member in for ■Northern Maori election' promises made by him would; Ibe carried out. ■; He said Mr Maclntyre! ■ I would be the voice between, 'the Maori people and the. ■ Government. *