PARIHAKA SETTLEMENT.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 16840, 11 September 1920, Page 3

PARIHAKA SETTLEMENT.

UNUSED MAORI HOUSES. ■ PURCHASE FOR SOLDIERS. TRUSTEES .WILL NOT AGREE. A meeting was held at the New Plymouth Soldiers’ Club this morning with the object of "discussing with the trustees of the Native village of Parihakd a suggestion that they should dispose of some 52-unused. Tiauses in the village for removal to ‘sections in the Parihaka Block which have been, selected by returned soldiers. Originally the Native village of Parihaka was vested in the two chiefs Te Whiti and Tohu, but a few years ago Judge Jack held a court there and ten trustees wore appointed to administer the village and a small area of surrounding land. Rates having accumulated for a considerable sum in the meantime, some of the trustees on being 1 approached by Mr. W. J. Gray were favourable to the disposal to soldier settler’s of the unoccupied houses, and Mr. Gray therefore invited the trustees to meet the Mayor arid other, prominent citizens to discuss.the'whole question. All the trustees were present, .also the Mayor (Mr. J. Clarke), the Commissioner of Crown Lands (Mr. G. H. Bullard), Colonel C. H. Weston, Messrs. W. J. Chaney, A. S. Allen and H. Davies (representing the Returned Soldiers’ Association and Repatriation Department). Mr. W.’H. Skinner and Mr. S. W. Shaw. -

Mr. ‘ Gray presided, and . dismissed with the trustees in the Native tongue tho proposals as outlined above, among tho Maoris taking part being Mr. W. Te Whlti, son of tho late chief Te Wliiti, and Mr. Rangi Tohu, son of tha late chief Tohu.

Subsequently Mr. Gray, addressing the Europeans present, said the trustees desired him to thank them for their presence and to say that, whilst they felt it would be good business to dispose of the houses, sentimental reasons prevented them agreeing to the proposal. They also felt that if they consented to dispose of the houses it ■would lower their . dignity. Thi# attitude, explained Mr. Gray, might be difficult for Europeans to understand, but it was a thing the Maori treasured very much indeed. Their hearts were bound around the traditions of the place and they felt they could not consent to sell even though it would be good business on their part to do so. Mr. Gray added that, personally, he had hoped that" the wollld agree to the proposals. The Mayor, on behalf of the citizens, thanked the trustees for their attendance and for discussing the matter. He could quite understand the feelings which prevented the trustees disposing of the unused houses, but said, it had been felt that if they could I be purchased it would have been a big help to the returned soldiers who had taken up land in the Parihaka Block; especially. as .building, material.Avas so scarce and*difficult to get at'the present, time. However, the pakeha himself was not without sentiment, and, whilst they were disappointed that the answer of the trustees was in the negative, they quite appreciated the Maoris’ attitude that sentiment waa,."greater, than business. 1

Colonel Weston, on behalf of the returned soldiers, said they were’grateful to the trustees of the village and to Mr. Gray for the interest they had taken in the proposal. It was a happy idea that they should come forward if possible to help those who had come back from tho war after fighting side by side with their own boys, bpt thev appreciated the fact, as the Mayor hail said, (that their respect for. Me’, traditions of the past prevented them'giving effect to the proposal. However, At was nice to feel that the soldier settlement was to be called by the name of Parihaka and that some day, when the sons of the Pakeha and the Maori had turned the land into, smiling, fertile, well cultivated farms; it would still be known by the name of tho old settlement.

Mr. W. H. Skinner also thanked the Natives-present and Mr. Gray for the interest they had shown in the matter. All the Natives present were personal friends of his. Ho had known their fathers and mothers before them, and although the negotiations had failed he was glad to know that it was only on the matter of sentiment. 1 Mr. Gray, who interpreted the above speeches, mentioned that although they had not been successful in carrying through the, proposal the meeting would have done a great deal of good. It would have enlightened the Maoris and the matter might he discussed in thb future when probably they would have changed their views.