MAORI AND PAKEHA

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXVI, Issue 80, 16 March 1936, Page 9

MAORI AND PAKEHA

Big Gathering at Otaki NEW MEETING HOUSE OPENED By Telegraph—Press Association WELLINGTON, March 15. Maori and Pakeha gathered together in one spirit at Otaki yesterday for the opening of Whare-Runanga Raukawa, the new meeting house of the NgatiRaukawa Maoris. King Koroki, Princess To Puea, of the proudest Maori blood in New Zealand, and 1500 Maoris of six main tribes and many sub-tribes come from all parts of the North Island except North Auckland. The Prime Minister, the Hon. M. J. Savage, who is also Minister o£ Native Affairs, was present. The form of ceremony followed as closely as possible that laid down by ancient custom. Au assurance that Maori and Pakeha would receive equ. 1 treatment under the Labour Government, and that members of the Native race taking contracts for which they will be responsible to the Government will be paid according to European standards, was given by the Prime Minister. “The Government I represent has only one mission on earth, and that is to treat men and women as equals, that is, whether they are Pakeha or whether they are Maori,” said Mr Savage. “It will be our duty to interpret the Waitangi Treaty and to give effect to it not only in the spirit, but in the letter, of its provisions. We realise the size of the problem facing us, but we face it without fear.”

CHIEFS RECEIVED

Governor-General’s Hope

By Telegraph—Press Association WELLINGTON, March 15.

On Friday afternoon at Government House, the Governor-General received Koroki To Rata Mahuta, one of the paramount chiefs of the Maori race, and an entourage of Maori representatives. Those accompanying the paramount chief were: Te Ata (wife of Koroki Te Rata Mahuta), Te Pauea (grand-aunt of Koroki Te Rata Mahuta), Whare Hotu (chief of the Maniapoto tribe), Marcikura (chief of the upper Wanganui tribe), Rima Wakarua (chief of the Rauru tribe and chairman of the Taranaki Maori Trust Board), Ariki Takaringi (chief of the Wanganui tribes), Punairangiri (chief of the Raukawa tribe), Te Uo Nuku Reno (chief of the Ngati Toa tribe), Wi Tako (chief of Te Atiawa tribe), and Te Hurinui (P. H. Jones, chief of the Waikato and Maniapoto tribes) who acted as interpreter. Lord Galway impressed upon the visitors the necessity for retaining the histories and traditions of the Maori tribes, and arts and crafts, songs and dances. lie expressed the hope that King Koroki would be able to do much to promote among the Maoris pride in their race, language, accomplishments and ideals.