TALK OF "STOUCH"

Evening Post, Volume CXVI, Issue 113, 9 November 1933, Page 9

TALK OF "STOUCH"

INCIDENT IN HOUSE

MAORI MEMBER'S FEELINGS

A Maori member's belief that a reflection had been cast on him by a Minister caused a'dull debato on tho Coinage Bill in the House of Representatives last night to flare- up suddenly. "I was not pleased at the answer given to my question," said Mr. E. T. Tirikateno (Southern Maori member). "It opens up the way to some 'stouch, 3 and if there is any 'stoueh' needed, it's here." Earlier in the debate the member had represented that Maori characters, carving's, or replicas of Native ancestors should form part of the design on the new silver coins. The Minister of Finance (the Et. Hon. J. G. Coates) had replied that if all the coins were covered with tattooed Maoris with feathers in their heads, mitside,;people would think that all New Zealanders were savage Maoris. Mr. Tirikatene: Don't got the wind The Minister: toil don't need to talk about getting the wind up—at least to me. Yfcu should betbe last to Isuggest that. You are only" half and half. ■ When- Mr. Tirikatene referred to tho incident, the Chairman of Committees asked him what ho meant? Miy Tirikateno: I ixill point out if yon will let me. If I am wrong I will Apologise. My interpretation of tho Minister's answer when I said I hoped he would not get tho wind up over tho designs in the newspaper The Chairman: What did you mean by .".getting the wind up"? .Mr. Tirikatene replied that a cartoonist hnri expressed the opinion that if all Mf.ori designs were .employed on tho coins everyone in Ivew Zealand would be regarded as a. savage. The figure used by the cartoonist was a Maori with' a protruding tongue representing a. tiki, and he had suggested that tho Minister should not get the wind up on Miose grounds. The.Chairman: "Getting tho wind up" means lack of courage, and when imputed to tho Minister it is distinctly out of order: ■•• Mr.'Tirikatene: We will go further. ■ The Chairman: You cannot go any further. Mr. Tirikatene: I ask what the Minister, meant when he said I am only half, and half. If there Is any. misinterpretation or misunderstanding I will apologise, but I deplore the-too of any term like that. I do not want to go into any ancestral history, but I can prove from both sides that I am descended from good stock." ' The Minister: I can assure the hon. gentleman that that was not in my mind at all. ■ A member: You said he was half and half.C Mr. Tirikatene (to tho Minister): It fell from your lips. The Minister: 1 can assure you you Are quite wrong.' . ,__ •Mf. P. Jones (Labour, Dunedin South).:1 You said he was neither ono nor' the other; lidr. Tirikatene: I accept that. I am pleased to have had the opportunity of pointing out that I &.m~ no coward, whether or. not there arc a hundred about.