The Christchurch Star PUBLISHED BY New Zealand Newspapers Ltd. MONDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 1934. HISTORIC WAITANGI.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20222, 5 February 1934, Page 6

The Christchurch Star PUBLISHED BY New Zealand Newspapers Ltd. MONDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 1934. HISTORIC WAITANGI.

IN LOOKING BACK to the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi on February 6, 1840, one naturally regards this historic event as the culmination of the efforts of greatminded men, whose honour and integrity have written such a creditable page in New Zealand history. Waitangi, or “ Whytangliee,” according to the spelling of Samuel Marsden, who gave a more accurate line to Maori pronunciation in many instances than those who came after him, first comes into prominence as a site greatly beloved by one of Marsden’s missionaries, Mr Hall, who purchased fifty acres of land but had to vacate it when he was attacked by strangers, an outrage that raised deep indignation among the friendly natives. Waitangi was a rich district and possessed many local advantages among which Marsden notes “ the finest fall of water for mills that perhaps he has even seen.” Marsden, in fact, had quite made up his mind to hear of Mr Hall and his family being murdered by robbers in this ideal spot, for he would have been murdered in New South Wales “ in situations not half so exposed to danger.” The warm friendship that grew up between Marsden and the natives led to the strongest representations through Viscount Goderich that the British Government should take measures to protect the Maoris against outrages from lawless Europeans, and when Mr James Busby was appointed British Besident in New Zealand he fixed his residence at Waitangi and in a notable address to the natives he evinced the good feeling with which he entered upon the duties of his office. The conclusion of his speech is worth recording:

Do you then. O chiefs and tribes of New Zealand, desire to become like the people in England? Listen first to the Word of God, which He has put into the hearts of His servants, the missionaries, to come here to teach you. Learn that it is the will of God that you should all love each other as brethren; and when wars shall cease among you then shall your country flourish. Instead of the roots of the fern you shall eat bread, because the land shall be tilled without fear and its fruits shall be eaten in peace. When there is abundance of bread man shall labour to preserve flax and timber and provisions for the ships that come to trade, and the ships that come to trade shall bring clothing and all other things which you desire. Thus shall you become rich. For there are no riches without labour, and men will not labour unless there is peace that they may enjoy the fruits of their labour.

It was at Waitangi that the declaration of the independence of New Zealand was signed on October 28, 1835, and events moved quickly to the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi, under the beloved Hobson, whose death in 1842 was greatly lamented by the Maoris. In an address to the Queen at the time of his death, in which they asked for a new governor, these ancestors of the men who are celebrating the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi to-day said:—“ Let not the new governor be a boy or one puffed up; let not a troubler come amongst us; let him be a good man like the governor who has just died.” INQUIRY INTO MONEY. 'T'HE ORDER OF REFERENCE provided for the Select Committee which is to inquire into the monetary system of the Dominion is wide enough to satisfy most people who crave for a change in the present system. It is hard, however, to understand the method adopted by the Government in selecting the investigating committee as it includes a number of members who, as far as is known, have not given special consideration to monetary reform. At the same time, other members of the House who have made a special study of monetary reform have been overlooked, and, while their schemes and theories may not be best suited for New Zealand conditions, their specialised knowledge would have been of considerable assistance to the committee in reaching its findings. The committee will have the services of an expert secretariat, but it is reasonably safe, even at this stage, to forecast that the recommendations brought down will not favour any marked change from the present system.