Delay in Cutting Trees For P.M.'s Maori Canoe

Northern Advocate, 6 January 1948, Page 4

Delay in Cutting Trees For P.M.'s Maori Canoe

KAIKOHE, Tues. (Sp.)—-Today week elders Ngapulii tribe, together with their chosen woikmen \\eie to have gone into the Puketi State Forest to brin*. to eaith a 1000yem ;?hl See was to be used in the construction of a large canoe which the tribe was to present to the p time Mimstei ( Vlr Fraser) to keep on Lake Omapere as his personal pioperty However, it now appears that a hold-up has occurred m the project.

The tree, selected by Mr Whautcrc Witehira and other elders of Kaikohe during a recent visit to the forest, is on land a portion of which is being claimed by the Maoris through they Surplus Lands Commission. Visiting Wellington, Mr Witehira saw the Prime Minister and obtained. I while there a permit to use the timI her for the purpose of canoe construction. However, the trees first chosen by the Maoris as ideal for shaping were ; refused by the State Forest Service as being wasteful, and a compromise" was reached in which a kauri 60ft in length and with a loft girth and also a totara with a 10ft girth and a length of 40ft were decided on. The total amount of timber in the trees is about 1700 cubic feet and for this a sum of £l2B.is being asked by. the Slate Forest Service. The service has refused permission to the Maoris to enter the forest until payment is made. AWAITING DECISION The Maori elders stated this morn-' ing that it was not likely that any- j thing further will be done jn the mat- ■ ter until ihe decision of the Surplus i Lands Commission is known. The construction of the canoe to sail ■ on the waters of Lake Omapere will; fulfill an ancient Maori prophesy. j The prophecy, it is stated, declares I that it shall not be possible to build i the canoe until the people have be- j come the equals of their conquerors, j Today, the people say, this situation has arrived. | ass.**.. i