TAPU VIOLATED

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 20, 18 July 1911, Page 8

TAPU VIOLATED

MAOUIS DESERT CRYSTAL PALACE. DISAPPOINTING CONTRETEMPS. London, May 26. There are two sides to every question, but the Maori contingent which arrived here nearly a month ago, and which was to have been a feature of the Festival of Empire at the Crystal Palace, thinks there is only one side to their dispute with the Festival authorities. However that may be, the trouble is of a most regrettable nature. When the Maoris were on their way to England, arrangements were made that.they were to be admitted to the Crystal Palace by virtue of a special relaxation of the order of the Colonial Office against the employment of native races—and a space was allotted for their village close to the Australian building, there being no room available near that of the Dominion.

Accordingly they set to work to erect their whares on a cramped and steep hillside, quite unsuitable for the purpose. The whares had to be small to get into the space, and they had to be constructed largely of straw, owing to the lack of rapu. The Maoris were not at all pleased with the thing, but they were not unsatisfied that when the Festival opened in May they would probably be able to occupy their own habitation and get to business, instead of spending their money and time in lodgings in the vicinity of the Palace. Unfortunately, when the Home Office authorities made the customary inspection of the grounds before permitting the King to attend for the opening, the officials came to the conclusion that the Maori village was dangerous from the fire point of view, since the dropping of a single match would probably start a conflagration which could not easily be confined to the village or the adjoining buildings. It was condemned. The Maoris were forbidden to occupy it. This was bad enough, but the Festival authorities were more than anxious to keep the Maoris in the grounds and to make matters right, so that probably an arrangement would have been come to had not a subordinate official, ignorant of the spirit of the Maoris, approached them rather roughly and proceeded to the extent of pulling down several of their whares. This was an insult which could not be wiped out except by blood, and this method of expiation being illegal, the Maoris packed up their belongings and declared their intention of returning to New Zealand by Saturday's steamer. The Festival authorities, including Lord Plymouth himself, were much concerned, and spent many hours in consultation, endeavouring to persuade the Maoris to overlook the insult and accept several very desirable positions in the grounds, as well as financial and practical help in the constructioi of a village worthy of the race.

Mita Taupopoki, who, as an old Maori, naturally felt the position very keenly, could not be reconciled, and Maggie Papakura used all her persuasive arguments to no effect. The position from the Festival point of view was rendered hopeless by an offer to the Maoris from the Coronation Exhibition at Shepherd's Bush, and early this week it was generally understood that they would go there if they did not return forthwith to New Zealand. Now they have accepted the offer, and are busy getting themselves installed at the White City. In view of the fact that the Maoris have been in England a month and have not yet earned any money by their displays of dancing and singing they have received a good deal of sympathy in their trouble.