EAST COAST AND WAIKATO TRIBES COME TOGETHER

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 6863, 19 March 1929, Page 7

EAST COAST AND WAIKATO TRIBES COME TOGETHER

Native Hostel Opened NO PARTISANSHIP IN DEALING WITH MAORI MR COATES’ FLEDGE. Per Press Association. HAMILTON, Last Night. Tho opening of the Mahinarangi hostel for Maori orphans and indigent folk at Ngaruwahia to-day was a remarkable indication of the increasing co-operation of tho various tribes. The four great groups, between whom certain differences have persisted sinco tho Maori war. united in this effort promoted by Princess Te. Puea Herangai, on whoso model pa the new structuro has been erected. A feature of the opening proceedings was the appeal mado by the chiefs to white politicians to exclude partisanship from their dealings with Maori affairs* The opening ceremony was performed by Mr J. G. Coates, who was invited to act, when Premier, by Princess To Puea. The Coates government gave £250 worth of timber for the hostel. Sir A. T. Ngata spoke first, emphasising the importance of tho reconciliation of the tribes. Money for the hostel came largely from the East Coast. . ' Mr Coates, after offering his congratulations, said he had been asked if he would assist in keeping Native interest above political issues and whether he would give undivided support to tho Native Minister. He could only ropeat what he had said before* There were three political canoes: Sir Joseph Ward captained one and he was, only a short nose ahead in the race. The speaker captained another and Mr H. E, Holland, the third. According to some politics, the speaker said, he should that day be pulling Sir A. T. Ngata 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 be brought together to make out tho best courso for the Maori people to sail. (Applause.) The Maoris had . been concerned about certain' grievances and it was necessary that these troubles should be dealt with once and for all. The' attitude of the Maori people toward tho pakehas in the past with reference to confiscated, lands had been difficult* He hoped some of these troubles had been and would be eliminated by the, appointmont of a special commission. He hoped the Maoris would accept its decision and place these troubles behind them. He would ask, however, was the Maori making the host use of the lands which he held Did the pakeha recognise the difficulty the Maori had in working these lands! / Would th< pakeha consider concerted action td show the Maori how best to work these lands! While the Maori had equal rights with the pakeha in theory, ha did not have in practice. (Applause.)' It was chiefly because the pakeha ;did not closely consider the history and traditions of the Maori race. Ha would certainly co-operate with S H A. T. Ngata towards assisting thd Maori race. (Applause.)