WAITANGI COSTS

Evening Star, Issue 21641, 9 February 1934, Page 3

WAITANGI COSTS

PREMIER DEFENDS EXPENDITURE [Per United Press Association.] AUCKLAND, February 8. “ I am quite convinced that the expenditure incurred was thoroughly well justified, and that the outcome of the gathering will be of lasting benefit to both races and to the country generally,” said the Prime Minister (Mr Forbes) when the criticism concerning the money spent on the celebrations at Waitangi this week was brought under his notice. “ I doubt if a gathering of such importance has ever previously taken place in New Zealand, as it has served to focus attention on something that we have been neglecting, or at least overlooking.” Mr Forbes said be could not believe anyone who was at the celebrations and saw the friendliness and spirit that they evoked could hold any other opinion. He doubted whether the money could have been spent to better purpose. The relations between the two peoples bad always been good, but he felt that the ceremony bad cleared up any feelings that might have been in the minds of the Maori people that the Europeans were not desirous of carrying out their part of the Treaty of Waitangi. ” The gathering at Waitangi provided Air Coates and myself with an opportunity of addressing nil the Maori tribes in New Zealand, We were able to disabuse their minds of any feeling that wo were not going to carry out our policy of assisting them in the development of their lands, or any idea that there was going to be any confiscation of their lands. To my mind it was a very fine thing that we were able to bring them together in sueli circumstances ’’ Air Forbes said that the bulk of the expenditure went in the employment of unemployed labour and in transport costs, most of which went in the carriage of the Alaori tribes on the Government railwava. MAORIS’ GENEROUS GIFT. The unusual and generous gift to the Governor-General as chairman of the Waitangi National Trust was made on Tuesday by a Wanganui tribe. It consisted of a number of the finest flax mats woven by the most skilled women of the tribe. The gift perpetuated an old custom which was general among the Polynesian peoples and the Maoris. What was remarkable was that when the pile was unfolded some time later a cheque for £7O was found pinned to one of the mats. The donors with rare inodesty had said nothing whatever' about it. The money, as it happens, is most welcome because the Trust Board is much in need of funds, not only for carrying out improvements on the estate, but also for ordinary maintenance expenses. ■