MAORI LOYALTY
Sir,—Allow mo a small space in tion of the ulur of d Royalty which tho Minister of Defence, in his speech on the occasion of the inspection of the troops for tho Second Maori Contingent, cast upon some of the Maoris, and for which we feel shame. We know that tho Taranakis are objecting to come forward at the call to arms, for conscience sake. Although deprecating the fact we who understand their feelings cannot'help but honour them for their courage. Slia.ll 1 tell tho Hon. James Allen their reasons for holding baok The Maori understands that England has gone to war for honour's sake—that Germany violated a "scrap of paper," which her representative had signed for the protection of a. small country. So far so good. But the mere Maori mind cannot help asking, where is Britain's honour? What about the scrap of paper" Britain signed for the protection of a small people, and the promises contained therein? Why has Britain allowed tho New Zealand Government to violate that "scrap of paper," called the 1 roaty of Waitangi? Did. I hear the Minister say that those injustices were past? No; they live to-day, and will live for ever a blot on New Zealand history, and-shall I say it.'on Tritain's honour and her much-vaunted fairplay. ', c ~ We have cheerfully sent our sone to tight for our country, and to do our part for the Empire for the love we bore to our .beloved Quepn Victoria, and-bear 'to .her gandson George V and his Queen, to whom we vowed personal allegiance when we. welcomed them to our shores on the occasion of tho visit 14 years ago, and who, we feel sure, would redrew our wrongs if they could. As for the compensations of civilisation Mr Allen speaks of, I fail to see them. Had I been left in my primitive state, I would have been ha-ppy, and content with my fern root tnd kahu" and paraerae, and not be •worrying where the next 10d is to come from to pay for to-morrow's bread, and the wherewithal I shall be clothed.-I am, I Otakou, September 1,
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Otago Daily Times, Issue 16481, 6 September 1915, Page 2
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357MAORI LOYALTY Otago Daily Times, Issue 16481, 6 September 1915, Page 2
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