GOODWILL EXPRESSED

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 16839, 31 December 1928, Page 8

GOODWILL EXPRESSED

GOVERNMENT AND MAORIS

MINISTERIAL VISIT TO -RATANA

Goodwill to flic .Maori wa.s the message delivered to members of the Katana movement on (•'hrixtina.s Day' by Hon. W. A.. Ycitch on behalf of the Goveniinent. Jt wa.s the iirst time that tko movement, had been recognised, states the. Manawatn Standard. .Mr. Veiteh was accompanied by .Mr. Tuiti MacDonald. At s’., and ifr. T'e A. I‘itama.

On arrival at the pa, the party was met, by a, band and the priests and sisters ol the Katana Church in all their vestments, and led up to the porch of the prophet's house. On the large open space, in front were massed the people of the village, reinforced by followers ol Katana from other parts of New Zealand.

The tine choir sang a hymn of praise, following which Mr. I’epene Efcetoue welcomed the visitors, especially Messrs Veiteh and' McDonald, wlio represented the new Government. Never before had the movement- been recognised and they were truly grateful, he said, lie greeted the Parliamentarians and congratulated, through them. Sir Joseph Ward. The prophet, Air. 11. W. Katana, then addressed the gathering. ‘'Whatever lands, whatever interests we have/’ lie said, “we surrender them to the. administration of the now Government, hut it' any should have no lands we ask that you give them some. Wo had been burdened with taxes; our lands have been confiscated, and we ask that, you will see to our needs. We waul to see a policy of the, Government that, will encourage agricultural pursuits among the Maoris."’

An address of welcome, written in both Maori and English, was then presented to Mr. Veiteh.

“Christmas Day is a day of goodwill/’ said .Air. Veiteh, replying, “and we, are here to express the goodwill of the Government to you. The Government ..will help you to cultivate your land.’’ Sometimes it was thought, lie proceeded, that the Maori would not make use of his land, but. after travelling fairly extensively over New Zealand lie had come to the conclusion that, in the majority of cases, the Maori wa.s doing well.

Mr. MacDonald, after apologising for the absence of Hon. J. G. Cobbe, said that the new Government, would, wherever possible, return the lands that had been confiscated. The. belief that one day Maori and pakelui. would become united in one great race was the view expressed by Air. lfitama, who counselled the. Maoris not to forget that they came of a great race. The time, for them to stand still and watch the amazing progress of the Dominion was over, and they should no longer hold aloof.

Other Maori speakers spoke to Mr. Veiteli on individual laud questions and Mr. Katana, placed several small requests before him. ,All these the Minister received favorably, am! stated that' they would be referred to the Ministers of the departments concerned. The party was then >sho\vn round the village and later entertained at tea.