TROUBLE AT ORAKEI

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 255, 27 October 1937, Page 8

TROUBLE AT ORAKEI

WORKMEN ON MAORI LAND NATIVES’ RESENTMENT KORERO CLEARS THE AIR. [ Per Press Association. ] AUCKLAND, Oct. 26. As a sequel to a series of events at ihe historic church reserve at Orakei during the past few weeks the Maori occupants of the land concerned assembled on the verandah of an old house formerly occupied by the schoolmaster this afternoon for a korero with Mr. F. O. V. Acheson, Judge of the Native Land Court, an interpreter from the Native Land Court, the Rev. R. G. Coats, president of the Friends of Orakei, and the Rev. W. G. Panapa. The purpose of Judge Acheson’s visit was to advise the Maoris to refrain from resisting the encroachments of departmental employees with violence. The first incident leading to the deadlock which has been reached occurred about a month ago, when contract workmen attempted to take down a boundary fence for the purpose of taking a tractor through to make excavations preparatory to laying down roads. On that occasion the endeavours of the workmen were met with angry words by elderly Maori women living in whares on the property, but the tractor was eventually driven through for about a chain and a-half. The Maoris later restored the fence. Similar endeavours on the part of the workmen were met with violence on Thursday last, and when it appeared that the work was to be carried out an elderly Maori woman attacked a workman with clenched lists, driving him off. An engineer was later brought to the scene and the work was not proceeded with. Early this afternoon a veteran Maori woman expressed her intention of resisting an further efforts in the same manner as on last Thursday, and the general attitude pervading the community gave an indication that further trouble mignt be expected. A vigil was being maintained, and one Maori woman pulled out several survey pegs.

Prior to the arrival of Judge Acheson about six of the women and three men were assembled by Mr. Coats and Mr. Panapa and when Judge Acheson arrived he was greeted with a haka of welcome in true Maori fashion. The discussion was held in the open air. The natives first expressed regret that there was not a greater attendance, but explained that most of the men were away at work. The discussion lasted for over an hour, and the Maoris were left in a much happier frame of mind. At the conclusion of the korero Judge Acheson said that he had impressed upon the natives that the Court dealt solely with the matter of resistance to the law. He advised them not to weaken their case with any show of violence, as if their case were strong it would only be weakened by violence on their part. The Court would offer to discuss with the natives, as far as the church reserve was concerned, with a view to reaching a satisfactory solution of the whole trouble if such negotiations were acceptable to the Government. “The natives have promised not to commit any assault pending the results of such negotiations,” said Judge Acheson. “I propose to visit the area to see exactly what works are proposed at the present moment. Pending such settlement I have also assured the natives that there is no immediate intention on the part of the Government to remove them from their homes. At the conclusion of the talk this afternoon they were certainly in a mi :h happier frame of mind.”