GOODWILL OF MAORIS

Taranaki Daily News, 10 February 1934, Page 9

GOODWILL OF MAORIS

WARNING OF SIR APIRANA NG ATA. DIFFERENCE OF OUTLOOK. Waitangi, Feb. 7. Speaking as a mere Native, Sir Apirana Ngata informed his Ministerial colleagues at a deputation that the Government would not retain the goodwill of the Maoris, engendered by Monday’s remarkable' demonstration, if it intended to push pakeha Administration down the throats of the Natives. The Minister, at the time, was referring to land development, and admitted that the issue at present was more or less sub judice. However, he was constrained to say that a point had been reached where the Treasury on one. hand had to be satisfied, and on the other, the Natives who were on the land. A balance' had to be struck between the two..

When it came down to detail, the administration must be such as understood the Native mind. There was a danger that if were regarded through the Treasury, Audit and pakeha ends of the telescope, an administration would be imposed on Natives which would not please them, and the Government would not receive the same service from the race, because the appeal to them in the past had been to make good. The pakeha could not make that appeal. (Applause). It was not possible to thrust a pakeha administration down the Maori throat. There were psychological circumstances which must have primary consideration, otherwise the whole thing would “go phut.” New Zealand must treasure the best elements of Maori culture, and the race must retain its individuality. Statesmanship should schedule, in a general way, variations under the treaty which would cement common citizenship, and enable the race to retain its individuality as the aboriginal people of New Zealand. (Applause). After acknowledging the debt he- said the race owed to Mr. Coates, Sir Apirana Ngata declared the Natives had in the present Government a body of men most sympathetic and reasonable to the aspirations of the race, although they “know damn little about the Native land question.” (Laughter). Pakeha opinion was groping to find the balanced solution, and the Maoris must recognise and not misunderstand that. The European taxpayer was merely asked to assist in the promoting of those things which would enable the Maori to preserve the best elements of culture of the race. Waitangi had produced a renaissance of Maori carving among 18,000 people in the north, and would make the pakeha realise, more than ever before, what the preservation of Maori culture meant to thq race.