FAMOUS MAORI

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22457, 29 June 1936, Page 11

FAMOUS MAORI

SIR MAUI POMARE

UNITED TRIBUTE TO MEMORY

TEN THOUSAND ASSEMBLE

SPEECH BY LORD GALWAY

[bv telegraph—OWN correspondent] NEW PLYMOUTH, Sunday

On the heights of Manukorihi overlooking Waitara 10,000 people, Maori and pakeha, gathered 011 Saturday to take part in a ceremony that was the climax of a week of rejoicing and years of careful planning." Under grey winter skies the two races united in paying tribute to tho memory of a dead chief and leader, Sir Maui Pomare, son of the Ngatiawa, and for the first time the great white statue commanding the marae was bared of its shroud and the magnificent now carved meeting house was thrown open < to the white man. The central figures of the ceremonies were the Governor-General, Viscount Gal way, and Viscountess Galway, with whom were associated the Prime Minister, Mr. Savage, the Hon. P. Fraser, the Hon. H. G. R. Mason, the Hon. W. Lee Martin, the Hon. F. Jones,, the Hon. D. G. Sullivan, the Rt. Hon. G. W. Forbes, the Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates, end a Parliamentary party numbering nsarly 40. In addition the official party included the Maori King Koroki, Lady Pomare, and many notable Maori leaders. Hakas and Pol Dances By 9 o'clock in the morning tho marae was deeply fringed with people and the official Maori parties began to arrive and take their appointed places. As they came the hoarso rhythm of the hakas and poi dances with which each party was greeted . gained in insistence and volume. By 10 o'clock the marao was packed with a mass of people, save for a lane through which the official guests were to pass. The affectionate greeting which was accorded Lady Pomare and her son on arrival gave place to a roar of welcome as Mr. Savage and his Ministers proceeded to the statue, where they were officiallv ( welcomed by the Rev. R. T. Haddon. Then a full-throated roar of Maori, welcome arose as Lord and Lady Galway walked down the marae to the statue. Maori ex-service-men, .drawn up to the right, were inspected by His Excellency, after which haka and poi parties advanced and gave the traditional welcome. A short service, conducted in Maori

i and in English, by the Bishop of Aotearoa. the>,Rt. Rev. F. A. Bennett. ~ and the Rev. I?. T. Haddon, grouped at the base of the monument, preceded the unveiling by the GovernorGeneral. Colleagues Pay Homage Many tributes to' Sir Maui's work were also expressed by speakers in acknowledging the welcome they had received. Mr;' Savage sai4 it had been his privilege to see Sir Maui in action in the House of Representatives and elsewhere, fighting the battles of the native race. "I am sure I never saw him to better advantage than when he was fighting the battle of the Samoans in 1927,'' said the Prime Minister. Mr. Savage read two messages of goodwill from the ship Maui Pomare. One was from the goodwill delegation written by the Hon. P. Langstone, and the other was from the officers, the crew and the passenger:? on the ship Mr. Coutes, who commenced and con-

eluded his speech with a few Maori words, said Sir Maui Pomare was one -of New Zealand's great sons. Sir Maui had helped toward a better understanding between the two races, and it was only by such understanding; that happiness and contentment could be reachejL , ** Worthy Representative of Race

Mr. Forbes said he and Sir Maui had been friends from the day the latter entered Parliament. He was a ■worthy representative of the Maori people. He had done his best to advance the welfare of the Maoris. "We are all New Zealanders," he said, "and I want to see the country go ahead, and to see the Maori people taking their part in the life of the Dominion." Mr. Fraser referred to Sir Maui Pomare as a great and illustrious man. He was a great benefactor to both the Maori and pakeha. He had been in charge of thd health of the whole people and he was one of the greatest of Ministers of Health tho Dominion ever had. His heart went out to the sick and suffering, and he did all he could to succour them. He helped the ailing in the Maori pas as well as in the homes of the pakeha. He set a high standard in the care of the weak and afflicted. He laid a foundation on which others were privileged to build. Maori and pakeha should pull together in the great canoe of good feeling and goodwill in order that happiness and prosperity might come to them all. One of Dominion's Greatest Men

In unveiling the memorial and declaring the meeting house open, Lord Galway said the great gathering was i assembled to honour one of New Zealand's greatest men. As representative of the King, he assured those present that King Edward VIII.'s sympathy and interest in nil his peoples never . ceased. On the passing of King George, many expressive tributes were sent through the Government from the Maori people in the King's sorrow, expressed in most poetic language. Viscount Galway said he had been greatly impressed with the beauty of the expressions, and had written to His Majesty conveying the tributes. He had received an answer, stating that His Majesty had btfen specially touched by the messages from the Maori people. He paid' a tribute to the work Sir Maui Foniare had done in respect to the health and prosperity of his people. Health and happiness wont hand in hand. Sir Maui.'realised that the Maori people must adapt themselves to present conditions in order to obtain future prosperity and success. Sir Maui's work was proved by thp great additions in numberis of the Maori people revealed by the recent census. The greatest men were tho.se who inspired others to carry out great works. ' The greatest of men were benefactors the human Vaee. Turning to the monument, Lord Galway pulled on the cord and the draping fell away. An.old woman wailed thinly and the waitings stood weeping. Tlip //glistening white likeness of the great .chief stood looking calmly out across the niarae.