Bastion Point

Press, 29 May 1978, Page 16

Bastion Point

Sir, — To a layman the Maori Land question legislation seems to be a tangled web complicated by AngloMaori wars, confiscations, the operating of native land courts and continuing recriminations, and the cultural emotional and historical attachment of a Maori to his land. With multiple ownershi , the fragmentation of titles, Maori trustees, Maori land courts, there seem to be many fingers in many pies. But one thing is clear to me. May 25 was to the credit of the representative Maori people that they conducted themselves with an honour and dignity that befits a proud race. I am proud to be a New Zealander with them. They neither sacrificed their culture or traditions to a majority. We are one nation in which we all have equal rights. I commend May 25 and the stand at Bastion Point. The credibility of the Tamaki man on Bastion Point and other issues needs confirmation. He has split New Zealand again. The future use of Bastion Point by the Crown has just begun md will be a springboard for future negotiations in New Zealand as a whole. — Yours, etc., GRAEME STANLEY. May 28, 1978.

Sir, — Over the past few days I have heard much justification on behalf of the Government over the massive police action in evicting the peaceful protesters from that most desirable property, Bastion Point. No-one would deny that the Maori people and their supporters were breaking the law and trespassing by remaining on the land after the Supreme Court decision. I recall, however, the words of the great English judge, Lord Denning, when he addressed members of the Canterbury University Law Faculty some years ago. He made it quite clear that we should not always associate the law with justice. Pakeha politicians throughout our history have made the laws to deny the Maoris the rightful possession of much of their land and our courts merely interpret these laws. I am sure that the fair-minded Kiwi is not convinced that this is justice. Legal, police and Government actions of late merely make a mockery of the word; — Yours, etc., P. K. ORME. May 27, 1978.