MAORI WAR MEDAL.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume VII, Issue 2026, 12 August 1920, Page 18 (Supplement)

MAORI WAR MEDAL.

MR WRIGHT'S BILL AGAIN. • HOUSE IN JOCT7LAE MOOD. [From Our Own Parliamentary Reporter.]

WELLINGTON, August 11. This evening the House of Representatives spent a frivolous hour on the committal of a Private Member's Bill. This was the Maori War Medal Bill, standing in the name of Mr R. A. Wright (Wellington Suburbs), which has become something in the nature of a "hardy annual." This measure proposes to give a medal to those who took up arms in the Maori War, but who were not under fire. Those who were under fire have already a pension and a medal. Ordinarily, the Bill would have been an appropriation, and so out of order, but the mover proposed that the recipient should pay for his own medal, and all the expenses incidental to its issue. The House was not in a very serious mood, and it appeared to appreciate a notice of an amendment from Mr W. T. Jennings (Waitomo) to include those who were called up for service and were under arms during the Parihaka and East Coast disturbances, after the years 1868 ; 69. The hon. member for Waitomo said, however, that he was not hostile to the Bill. Mr Wright seemed inclined to doubt that, for he declared that this amendment would prove a torpedo, if it once got into the Bill. A number of North Island members spoke to the first clause, some opposing and some supporting the measure. Those in opposition pointed out that the issue of a me'dal to men who were not under fire would cheapen the decoration given to those who actually fought. Mr Wright explained that this would be a different medal. Thereupon Mr G. W. Forbes (Hurunui) suggested that it be called the "Wright Medal," but an hon. member on the Reform side thought that the "Wrong Medal" would be a better designation. Someone raised the point that the friendly Natives should also receive the medal, and Mr Wright agreed. The Hon. Dr M. Pomare (member of the Executive Council representing the Native Race), on the other hand, suggested that a medal should be given to both sides. (Laughter.) He reviewed the circumstances of the Maori War, and hinted that the real rebels were the Europeans and so-called "friendly" Natives, for the War had been caused by the taking of native lands, in breach of the Treaty of Waitangi. So, if only one>side -was to get the medal, let it be the side that had right on its side of the rebels. As to the Parihaka trouble, he thought that the brave volunteers who went up there had been amply repaid. They could not' deny that they had looted. The European at Parihaka had exhibited a very taking personality—(laughter)—and the volunteers had had"a jolly good time at the Maoris' expense. The Hon. Sir Heaton Rhodes (Minister of Defence) pointed out that, if a medal were given to those who had sworn in, it would go to many who had neve- loft their homes. Mr J. McCombs (Lyttelton) professed to think that was a tip-top idea. It would mean that, to be consistent, the hon. member for Wellington Suburbs must advocate that every man between the ages of 20 and 44, as an ex-member of the Expeditionary Forco Reserve in the late War, and liable to be called upon to serve, should get a medal. In that case, Mr McCombs himself would get a medal, so he really thought that he must support the Bill. (Laughter.) Mr W. S. Glenn said that he did not think that Great Britain struck medals for campaigns that were lost. He had never heard of one for the American War, and, in this case, the Maoris had not been defeated. .At intervals of about five minutes all through the 70 minutes' discussion, Mr B. McOallum (Wairau) interjected,' "Vote! Vote! Don't stonewall!" the reason being that flie hon. member had a Bill of his own, further down the Order Paper. Ultimately, a motion to report progress was carried on the voices, and consideration of the Bill was suspended.