Rights Of The Maoris

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 140, 10 March 1938, Page 13

Rights Of The Maoris

Sir, —After reading the Parliamentary debates on the Petroleum Bill and the Maori rights under the Treaty of Waitangi, it is now quite evident that Mr. Tirikatene, M.P. for Southern Maori electorate, representing a very small section of the Maori people of New Zealand, has forgotten entirely the much repeated “election phrase" uttered by him, and others, at the Native villages throughout the whole of New Zealand, that he was a figliter, for the restoration and preservation of all the rights of the Maori people under the treaty of Waitangi. Probably he has grown tired of those words which flowed so eloquently from his lips, and preferred to obey the command of his party leaders to the sacred compact made by the forbears of the Maori race. Instead of standing firm to the general wish of his Maori people for the preservation of the mana of the Maori, he has forsaken them in supporting a Government desirous of repudiating the compact. Where the Bill affects the Maori race,, it should never have been made a party! matter at all, considering there are only* four members for the Maori people, and’ the greater portion of the Maori people’ are represented by the members for the 1 Northern and Eastern Maori electorates/. And because they are members of the Op-*, position Government, is that just cause why the more numerous Maoris should’ be penalised by Mr. Tirikatene and Mr.' Ratana? The Labour Government has often “wooed” the Maori people with promises regarding immediate settlement of Maori legitimate grievances concerning confiscated lands, and yet during the absence of the Prime Minister, his deputy, the Acting-Native Minister, finalished the Orakei matter. It is very pleasing to read that the Maoris are increasing very rapidly, and I sincerely hope they are also increasing in knowledge to understand the wooing of the Labour Government, and have also increased in courage to assert their rights. Equality is a term used frequently by the Labour Government, but never put into operation correctly, when it comes to the matter of entrance into the Public Service or promotion in the Public Service. Should the-Prime Minister ever visit the majority of the Maori race, and hear their strong protests against the confiscation of their rights, I wonder would he agree to their wishes, or would he still be guided bx the wish of the minority?—l am, etc., P.K. Hastings, March 8.