THE TREATY OF WAITANGI.

Taranaki Daily News, 28 April 1930, Page 15

THE TREATY OF WAITANGI.

(To the Editor).

Sir, —In your issue of April 22 nearly a whole column was. devoted to an account of the large assembly of Maoris at Ratana Pa, the main topic of discussion being the Treaty of Waitangi. Hitherto misstatements uttered by the sp-called great Maori prophet have been allowed to pass unchallenged generally because they were directed mostly at his own followers, but the Treaty of Waitangi concerns every Maori. In order that the public may not be misled I wish it to be thoroughly understood that there are thousands of Maoris throughout the Dominion who are not at all in sympathy with Ratana’s unnecessary efforts. A common expression among Ratanaites is “The Treaty of Waitangi is dead, and Ratana is the only person who can bring it back to life again.” That contention is, of course, to say the least, “childish." I have seen a copy of the so-ealled petition mentioned. There is absolutely nothing suggestive of a petition in the wording of that document. In their discussion at the meeting they overlooked the very important fact that the Arawa Tribe of Rotorua have been allowed £6OOO annually by the Government for the rights of their river-beds and fishing grounds; Maniapotos (Waikato) £3OOO annually offered as compensation for lands confiscated; Taranaki, £5OOO annually, also for confiscation of lands. These are only some of the benefits received by the Maoris under that Treaty. How then can it be dead? Now just one more word about that document, which Ratana is trying to call a petition. In their own account they admit that it- is not a petition. To use the words in their own reports:“Of 68 covenants sent out 64 had been returned," etc. Here the word is “covenant." How can a petition be a covenant? It was not addressed to the House of Parliament or to any one member of that House. A petition, to my mind, must be to some person or persons. The ,n.ist prominent sentence on that document is (translated); “I hereby, agree that Ratana should be our leader in the matter of trying to bring the Treaty of Waitangi back to life again.” From the above sentence it certainly is a covenant. We are told that there were 128 Europeans who signed. Whatever induced them to sign such a thing I cannot conceive. Many of those who signed have publicly declared that they did so because they misunderstood the meaning of th( “petition,” and they are demanding that their names be struck out’. Only a year or’so ago Ratana would have nothing to do with the Treaty of Waitangi. He is taking this sudden turn in order to hold his followers together. I am only one of the very many Maoris who do not wish to be: connected with anything that Ratana does. —I am, etc., KAHI T. HARAWIRA. Waitara. .