Museum board

Press, 4 October 1982, Page 24

Museum board

Sir,—ln reply to M. O'Neil's contention (September 24) that I do not know the difference between early settlers and indigenous people, I-suggest he read the Museum Trust Board report more carefully. He would then see I suggested that the Maori community had a claim for board representation because they had contributed their culture to the museum, as had the early settlers. He also expresses amazement that there are individuals and organisations who still believe Captain Cook discovered Tahiti, etc. Why he mentions this I cannot understand as such contentions were not discussed at that meeting or indeed any board meeting I have attended for oyer seven years. Of course Captain Cook or any other European did not "discover” inhabited islands or countries in the sense of being first there. They probably were the first Europeans to “discover" or more accurately visit these places albeit often after remarkable voyages which were subsequently written about with the racial bias typical of many Europeans.— Yours, etc.. lAN G. CLARK. October 1, 1982.