MAORI HAKAS IN LONDON.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 18994, 16 April 1925, Page 9

MAORI HAKAS IN LONDON.

AN EAST-END CONCERT. ENTHUSIASTIC AUDIENCE. [from our own correspondent.] LONDON, Mar. 14. At a certain East End cinema this week a percentage of the takings was devoted to the Oxford House Settlement Mission. A programme having a New Zealand interest was interposed between the usual series of pictures. The denizens of Bethnal Green probably have heard very little about New Zealand except that it has produced a team of footballers, so that the swarthy Maori warriors who invaded this part of London the other night appeared as a people from another world as it were. There were about eight or nine hundred people present, and they received with enthusiasm mingled with something akin to amazement the dancing of the hakas and the singing.

The party who organised tlic Maori programme was il'awn from some ol those who assisted in the NewiZeaJand section ol' the pageant, at Wembley. Mr. J. To Kit-i was the leader of the and other New Zealanders were Mr. W. I'. T,. Whiti (CSiiJatea,), Mr. 10. H. A. Scales (Wellington), Mr. T. K. Brooks (Wellington), Mr. A. 10. Cool; (Hastings), Mr. W. Sheffield (Uotorua). and Mr. A. (Soonau (Auckland). The remaining five who took part were Londoners. As an introduction to the programme a. film depicting the wonders of the thermal regions was shown. If was <juite evident, that the spectators were remarkably interested in the picture, judging from the interjections and the remarks one heard. Before the native dances were performed an explanation was given of the position which the. Maoris hold in New Zealand, and the. audience was informed that the dances were such as were rarely seen by Europeans to-day, though they wore a common sight in" the early days of settlement. Remembering the wild ideas regarding New Zealand which are held by people Who ought to know better, this explanation to m East End audience was perhaps wise. The dancers were stripped to the waist, and their bodies were darkened with some colouring matter. Each one wore, a genuine Maori mat over a pair of football "shorts." Each carried a mere except the leader, who had the, chief's official weapon of war. The leader had his face made up to represent a fully-tattooed warrior. Four dances were performed with tremendous vigour arid reality. It was something that had probably never been seen so far East in London before, and the audience was delighted, and gave the dancers an enthusiastic reception.