END OF LONG FEUD

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21329, 2 November 1932, Page 13

END OF LONG FEUD

HOSTILITY FOR 20 YEARS MEMBER MAKES HIS PEACE MR. TE TOMO AND MINISTER [BY TELEGRAPH —SPECIAL REPORTER] WELLINGTON, Tuesday After a feud lasting over 20 years, Mr. Taite Te Tomo (Government —Western Maori) has made his peace with the Native Minister, Sir Apirana Ngata, and his announcement to that effect, naively but frankly expressed in the House to-day, was heard with close attention. Speaking through an interpreter, Mr. Te Tomo said he had been hostile to Sir Apirana Ngata from 1908 to 1930, and he believed his hostility had been justified. "I wrote to the Minister but got no reply to my representations," explained Mr. Te Tomo. " That mado me more angry, and I decided to get together an assembly of men to fight the Minister. However, the people would not follow me. They were still very pleased with him." (Laughter.) Mr. Te Tomo said Sir Apirana Ngata had recited to him regarding the dog which bayed at the moon, and had added: "You are like that dog. You are barking aimlessly at the Native Min:.ster." " I was associated with Sir Maui Pomare," continued Mr. Te Tomo, "and my idea was that Sir Maui Pomare and Sir Apirana Ngata should also be hostile and at loggerheads, but I discovered they were great friends, although I did not want them to be so. I tried to antagonise Sir William Herries against Sir Apirana Ngata, when Sir William was Native Minister, but Sir William just smiled. When Mr. Coates became Prime Minister, I thought my great chance in life had arrived, and I spoke to him about Sir Apirana. However, Mr. Coates took my hand and took me along to Sir Apirana, although I did not want to go. " I have been casting my mind back over all these events, and it seems to me that it has all been like a chessboard. Wherever I moved I was checkmated. I have seen good work done by Sir Apirana Ngata, and for that reason I am now making my peace with him." (Applause.) PURCHASE OF STORES DECREASED EXPENDITURE REDUCTION OF 35 PER CENT [BY TELEGRAPH —SPECIAL REPORTER] WELLINGTON, Tuesday The total expenditure in the purchase of stores during the year ended March, 1932, was £2,757,214, compared with £4,286,803 in the previous year, according to figures in the annual report of the Stores Control Board, presented in the House to-day. The principal decreases were in Railways, from £1,739,133 to £1,048,570; Public Works, from £1,368,394 to £859.666; Post and Telegraph, from £347,273 to £124.114. Only three departments showed increased expenditure, namely. Native, from £48,050 to £117,465; Agriculture, from £36,153 to £42.083; Industries and Commerce and Tourist and Publicity, from £20.837 to £21.274. The reduction this year compared with last year amounts to 35 per cent.