’Presence on land the only bargaining point’

Press, 8 May 1978, Page 6

’Presence on land the only bargaining point’

The Maori land protesters; must remain on Bastion Point because their presence was their only bargaining point, said a protest leader, Mr Grant Hawke, to an audience of about 150 at the Trade Union Centre last evening. A little later, news was received that the protest leaders had agreed to leave the site this morning. Mr Hawke replaced his brother, Mr X P. Hawke, at the meeting, which concluded a week of activities aimed to increase public sunport in Christchurch for the; protest movement. Mr X P. Hawke remained!

;; in Auckland yesterday for discussions between Maori > elders and the protesters. Mr Grant Hawke said in Christchurch that he had agreed that discussions between the protest committee and the elders should take place. He questioned how it could be known whether the news ' media or the protesters were telling the truth about the elders’ position. Initially, the elders had, through a resolution passed by the Orakei Maori Committee. sanctioned and blessed the protesters’ activities. Later, they had I verball v retracted their de-

cision, but had privately advised the activists to “fight on,” he said. If the Maori elders were to pass a resolution dissociating themselves from the militants, the Bastion Point protesters “may consider going home,” said Mr Hawke.

His group had tried repeatedly to persuade the elders to support the protest.

“The Government says to come off the land and then we will negotiate,” he said “But we must remain on Bastion Point — it is our only bargaining point.”