Lobby tells historian to retract race comments

Press, 27 July 1988, Page 44

Lobby tells historian to retract race comments

PA Wellington The political lobby group, Project Waitangi, has called on the historian, Sir Keith Sinclair, to retract statements made last week on race relations or resign from the 1990 Commission. '

Project Waitangi’s national co-ordinator, Ms Maryanne L’Estrange, said Professor Sinclair’s comments were historically misleading.

“New Zealand is not a remarkable democracy as Professor Sinclair claims but a deliberate means of disenfranchising the Maori people,” Ms L’Estrange said.

Sir Keith claimed race relations were at their lowest ebb since the Maori land wars of last century. The line being pushed by some Maori radicals would lead to democracy being replaced by racism and a system of government similar to that in South Africa, he said.

The commission was formed late last year to oversee New Zealand’s 150th anniversary celebrations in 1990.

Ms L’Estrange said it was time New Zealanders faced the facts of their history with maturity and dignity and not bury it among lies, myths and defensive European hysteria.

When the country became self-governing in 1852, adult males had the right to vote but many Maoris were disenfranchised on the ground their land was collectively owned, she said. Maori land title was individualised through native land acts in the 1860 s because settlers found it too difficult to acquire land from collective Maori owners.

This meant many Maori males qualified to vote but then the Government introduced the four Maori seats to corner the Maori vote, so existing European members would not be

voted out. Maoris could not vote on the general roll, Ms L’Estrange said.

“Professor Sinclair’s comments are unworthy as a member of the 1990 Commission which according to its chairman, Dr Michael Bassett, will lay the foundations of race relations in New Zealand for the next 50 years. "Professor Sinclair’s presentation of history gives only the victors’, i.e. pakeha, picture, just. as male historians before have recorded only the men’s perspective and male history.” Project Waitangi aimed to raise European awareness of the Treaty of Waitangi. The Young Women’s Christian Association has criticised the mounting hysteria over the treaty gripping the country. The Y.W.C.A. national president, Ms Judith Nathan, said Maoridom was seen as making outrageous de-

mands on the fishing industry and it was causing many European people who should know better to attack the treaty. The Y.W.C.A. maintained the issue of Maori fishing rights under the treaty could only be settled by the Crown and the Maori people making the claims. In demanding negotiating rights, the fishing industry was in effect claiming equal status with the Crown. Many Europeans appeared to feel indignant that their rights might be infringed yet the Maori people had been trampled on for the last 148 years, she said. The Y.W.C.A. also believed the criticism of the due process of law under the Waitangi Tribunal was creating a dangerous precedent for society. Ms Nathan said she was concerned few Europeandominated organisations had spoken out in defence of the rule of law in this issue.