SINCERE WELCOME

Evening Star, Issue 24054, 28 November 1941, Page 3

SINCERE WELCOME

PRIME MINISTER VISITS OTAKOU The Prime Minister. Air Fraser, together with his party, (which included Airs Fraser, the Minister of Defence (Hon. F. Jones), the mayor (Mr A. H. Allen) and Airs Allen, was given a typical and sincere Alaori welcome as they W’alked up the path to the new Alaori Centennial Church at Otakou. It was the first time’a Prime Alinsiter of New Zealand had visited the Alaori settlement, and Mr Fraser took the opportunity whilst returning from an inspection of the fortress at the Heads. The ceremony of welcome occupied nearly an hour. Inside the building, so rich in Alaori lore, brief speeches were made by Air D. Ellison, representing the Native race, the Rev. T. A. Pyhus. one of the trustees of the church, and the minister, the Rev. AV. L. Divers. Afr Ellison welcomed the party in both Alaori and English, and referred to the AlaonV loyalty to the Crown and 'the part their sons were playing in the present war. Mr Pyhus spoke of the efforts of the people of the district to build the church, and recounted some of the history of the settlement since the first Christian missionaries preached the Gospel to the Alaoris. In reply, Afr Fraser thanked the people for their characteristic welcome, and said that the settlement was teeming with Alaori history, ft had been a splendid idea to build such a beautiful church as a centennial memorial. The Native land problem, lie said, was becoming even more important than it used to he, and ho hoped that after the present struggle was over and victory had boon won all the Alaori claims would be adjusted to the satisfaction of all. They would never forget that the Alaori soldiers were fighting beside the pakelms to uphold the cause of freedom. After the ceremony the party was entertained at afternoon tea in the meeting house near the church.