NEW MEETING HOUSE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 64, 16 March 1936, Page 8

NEW MEETING HOUSE

OPENING CEREMONY AT OTAII GREAT MAORI GATHERING 1 Per Pr«M AtMciaUMi j WELLINGTON, March 15. Maori and pakeha. garnered together in one spirit at Otaki yesteiday tor the opening of the Wha.e-Kuoanga Raukawa. the new meeting bouse of the Ngati Raukawa Maoris. King Koroki Bud Princess Te Puea, of rhe proudest Maori blood in New Zealand, and L»OC Maoris of the six main tribes and tnanv sub-tribes, coming from all parts of rhe North Island but North Auckland, assembled in tue courtyard before the meeting house and ga e the reiemunv the significance of which it was worthy. the Prime Minister, Hon. M. J. Savage, who is also Min ister of Native Adairs, was present. The form of rhe ceremony followed as closelv as possible that laid down by ancient custom. An assurance that Maori and pakeha would receive equal treatment unuer the Labour Government, and t.»at members of the native ra> e taking contracts for which they will be responsible to the Government will be paid according to European standards, was given bv the Prime Minister. ” i’he Government I represent has only one mission on earth, and that is to treat men and women as equals—that is whether thev are pakeha or whether they sre Maori,’’ said Mr. Savage. •‘lt will be our duly to interpret tne Waitangi Treat v and to give effect to it nor only in the spirit hut in the letter of its provisions. We realise the size nf the problem facing us. but «e uce it without feat.*’