MAORI TROUBLES

Evening Star, Issue 20128, 19 March 1929, Page 13

MAORI TROUBLES

THE PAKEHA CAN HELP [Pa* United Press Association.] HAMILTON, March 18. The opening of the Mahinarangi hostel for Maori orphans and indigent folk at Js'gajjnawana to-day was remarkable as an indication of the increasing cooperat'd! betwee the various tribes, between four great gioups of whom certain differences lia -e persisted since the Maori War This effort was promoted by Princess Te Puea Herangai, on whose model pa the new structure has boon erected. A feature of the opening proceedings was an appeal made by the chiefs to the white politicians to exclude partisanship from their dealings with Maori affairs. The opening ceremony was performed by Mr J. G. Coates, who, when Prime Minister, had, at the request of Princess Te Puea given on behalf of the Government .C 250 worth of timber for the hostel.

Sir Apirana Xgaia (Native Minister) spoke first, emphasising (ho importance of reconciliation between the tribes. The money lor I lie hostel had core a largely f om the East Coast. Mr Coates after offering his congratulations, -aid he had been asked if ho would assist in keejr'ing Native interests above political issues ami whether he would give undivided support to the Native Minister. lie could only repeat twhat he had said before. There were three political canoes. Sir Joseph Ward captained one—he was only a short nose ahead in the race—the speaker captained another, and Mr H. E. Holland was skipper of the third. According to the game of politics, said Mr Coates, lie should that day be pulling Sir Apirana Xgata to pieces and should be firing ball cartridges at Sir Joseph Ward (Laughter.) Mr Coates agreed that Maori questions should be placed beyond the range of political controversies, and the three political canoes .should be brought together to nuke out the best course for the Maori people to sa'l (Applause.) The Maoris had been concerned about their grievances. It was: necessary (hat these troubles should be dealt with once and for all The attitude of the Maori people toward the pakehns in the past with reference to confiscated lands had been difficult. Ho hoped some of these troubles had been and would bo eliminated by the appointment of a special commission, He hoped the Maoris would accept the decisions and place their troubles behind them. He would ask: Was the Maori, however, making the best use o, the lands which he held? Did the pakeha recognise the difficulty the .Maori had in working those lands? Would the pakeha- consider concerted action to show the Maori how best to works these lands? 'While the Maori had equal rights with the pakeha in theory he did not have it in practice—(applause)—chiefly because the pakeha did not closely consider the history and traditions of the Maori race. He would certainly co-operate with Sir Apirana Xgata towards assisting 1 lie Maori race. (Applause.)