Protest site visit

Press, 10 April 1978, Page 7

Protest site visit

p Auckland Mr Justice Speight, who is hearing a Crown application for an imunction to prevent protesters from occupt mg Bastion Point, will inspect the locality today. He agreed to a suggestion Mr Joseph Hawke to visit the site. Mr Hawke is one of four defendants. The others aie Messrs Jack Rameka. Grant Hawke, and Roger Rameka The Attorney-General is the plaintiff. . , The Commissioner or C own Lands in Auckland <Mr G McMillan) spent the m trning explaining the formula by which the Government was to be paio $257,000 for 10 hectares of land and buildings to be handed over to a tribal trust board. He said details had still to be made final with tribal elders. The protesters had onlx tne support of their immediate families among the Ngati Whatua. said a witness, tne newlv appointed district offi- < er of the Maori Affairs Denartment (Mr N P. K. Puriri). Appearing on subpoena from the Crown. Mr Puriri said he believed that the local Orake: Maori Committee voted last vea r to withdraw its support of the protest

action. The voting was eight for and six against at a meeting from which Mr Joseph Hawke and others walked out in protest. Mr Puriri presented an affidavit on behalf of Ngati Whatua elders. He said he did not consider himself an elder and had no view on the issue as he was not part of the group. His wife was from the Ngati Whatua tribe and was a first cousin of Mr Joseph Hawkes mother. Mr Hawke referred witness tn a meeting between the

Prime Minister (Mr Muldoon - ) and two Cabinet Ministers earlier this year. He was asked whether it was normal for discussion on matters of importance to a tribe to be held behind closed doors, as certain people were excluded and guards screened those attending. Mr Puriri said it was not a matter of secrecy but of protecting those attending “from the veiling and screaming" of disruptive elements, so that they could talk business. The arrangements ’ were made With the elders.