STRAIGHT TALK

Northern Advocate, 6 February 1934, Page 4

STRAIGHT TALK

NGATA TO COLLEAGUES FAIR BALANCE WANTED. PRICE OF NATIVE GOODWILL. PRESERVATION OF MAORI CULTURE. (Special to “Northern Advocate.”) WAITANGI, This Day. Speaking as “a mere native,” Sir Apirana Ngata informed his Ministerial colleagues at a deputation this morning that the Government would not retain the goodwill of the Maoris, engendered by yesterday’s remarkable depioustration, if it intended to push Pakelia administration down the throats of the Maoris. The Minister, at the time, was referring to land development, and admitted that the issue at present was more or less sub judice. However, he was constrained to say that the point had been reached where the Treasury on the one hand, and the Natives who were on the land on the other hand, had to be satisfied. A balance had to he struck between the two. When it came down to detail, the administration must be such as was understood by the Native mind. There was a danger that- if everything were regarded through the Treasury, Audit and Pakeha end of the telescope, an administration would be imposed on the Natives which would not please them, ami the Government, would not receive the same service from the race, because the appeal to them in the past had been to make good. The Pakelia could not make that appeal (Applause). 1 It was not possible, said iSir Apirana, to thrust Pakelia administration down the Maori throat. There were psychological circumstances which must, have primary consideration, otherwise the whole thing would go "phut.” New Zealand must, treasure the best elements in Maori culture, and the race must retain its individuality, .Statesmanship should schedule in a general way, variations under the Treaty winch would cement common citizenship and enable the race to retain its individuality as the aboriginal people of New Zealand (applause). After acknowledging the debt he said the race owed to Mr Coates, iSir Apirana Ngata declared that the Natives had in the present Government a body of men most sympathetic with reasonable aspirations of the race, although they “know dam little about, the Native land question.” (Laughter). Pakeha opinion was groping to find balances and a solution, and the Maoris must recognise and not. misunderstand that. The European taxpayer was merely .asked to assist in the promotion of those things which would enable the Maori to preserve the best elements of the culture of, the race. Waitangi had produced a renaissance of Maori carving among 18,000 people in the North, and would make the Pakeha realise more than ever before what the preservation of Maori culture meant to the race.