Maori Woman Takes “Direct Actio?

Manawatu Times, Volume 61, Issue 67, 20 March 1936, Page 7

Maori Woman Takes “ Direct Actio?

HOLDS UP SAWMILL FOR SEVERAL DAYS

A Maori woman sitting ou a bush timber line at Horokino, near Mangapeki, held up a locomotive .for several days last week and seriously curtailed tho activities of the Ellis and Burnaud Sawmilling Company (states a Te Kuiti correspondent). The action was a protest against what wero alleged to be breaches of an agreement concerning cutting rights between the native owners of tho Tiroa bush and the Ellis and Burnand Company. Tho woman who held up the locomotive, Mrs. Mahuri, holds one of the largest Interests in the bush. From Tuesday to Saturday Mrs. Mahuri, who is about 50 years of age, had no food or drink. She remained sitting in the centre of the line successfully resisting all appeals to her to move and free tho lino for tho locomotive. Messrs Ellis aDd Burnand operate two engines, and tho stoppage of this one seriously affected their milling activities. The alleged breaches of the agreement which was made in 1920, are denied by the company. The natives, on the other hand, maintain that they have the right to re-enter tho land. Efforts to settle the dispute were made all last week without success, and subsequently Mrs. Mahuri began her vigil. The police wero evcnli>-lly> -■ -called in, and on Saturday night'a' decision was reached to call a truce for a month for the matter to be submitted to arbitration.- The shortage of logs eurtaile operations at the mill considerably.