A MAORI BANK.

Waikato Times, Volume 113, Issue 18875, 20 February 1933, Page 2

A MAORI BANK.

SOCIAL CREDIT SCHEMES.

OPERATED BY THE MAORIS. (By E. Earle Valle.) Wharerangi (sky house) was the local carpenter; the proud possessor of a saw of sorts, a chisel with an edge closely related thereto, a harnmei and a “cheap and chippy choper. ro give him his due, he could worn wonders, considering the nature of lus tools of trade. Unfortunately, however, he managed to dispose of the lands of his ancestors lo the tune of £BOO. With this he started the old game of “the big Rangatira”—he nobly entertained the tribe and carpentry in our area was at an end. To him I addressed myselt with no uncertain sound. “You infernal old fool! Don’t waste all your money. Get out of this and put what is left in the hank.” And 1 hurried him away to Rotorua. Arrived there he evidently exclaimed with Marshal McMahon, “J’y suis et j’y resle. Going thither in about a week, i searched out my friend and found him in an auction mart, seated in an easy chair in the front row, and exhibiting only the very slightest signs oi sobriety. He was on the point of becoming the possessor of a piano, when I stopped the proceedings, dragged him out and hunted him off home. Returning myself a couple of days later, I halted at the half-way house for lunch. Up rushed my friend Wharerangi, flourishing a cheque book with a few uuused forms in it. You the bad man, a hoa. The bank you tell me put my money in no good. He sell me the cheque book; now he won t pay the cheque.” 1 found he iiad been putting in considerable overtime at the bar of the house, shouting not only beer, but cheques on this rotten bank run on its antiquated, conservative lines, and giving us adequate assistance to the assumption of the good things of physical life. So he had returned to toil, and I gave him tne job of building a bridge; and against the job 1 supplied considerable stores in accordance with well-establishei custom. Materials assembled on the site. I sent word to my friend and received a reply to the effect Whaieraugi is engaged in an interesting bi - liard tournament, but hopes to be able to come in a day or two.” Consequently I got to work with my own men, and by the end of ten days, when Wharerangi and his men arrived, the work was nearly finished. But the stores were outstanding!

“| Got No Money.”

Laler I offered him another job, to alter my stores; and to get ready I shifted the stock out. Again no appearance, so I bucked in and did the job myself. A few days later along happens Wharerangi. Entering the store, lie exclaimed, “Awe! Who the capenter man?” In my pride and neglect of grammar I exclaimed ‘ Me And so things drifted for about 18 months, when, meeting the old chap, I said, “Look here, Rangi; if you don’t pay for those stores I’ll have to take out a summons." Then was it that ho uttered the fatal words so often quoted by Douglas social creditors, “I got no money." Consequently it was agreed that I should give him work, and I said, “ Be sure to come on Monday morning.” He solemnly promised. Monday, no Wrarerangi. Tuesday, no Wharerangi. Wednesday, he arrived. “Look here, Rang!; what do you mean by it? You promised faithfully to be here on Monday morning. You’re a waster.” “You mishtake, e hoa. We have the big meeting. We talk all night.” “Quite likely," I said, “loure champions to waste time.” “You mishtake; we have the big business. We get a hundred pounds.” "What on earth are you going to do with it?" I inquired. “We make the bank all the same the pakeba lend the money the Maori.” “My oath!" I exclaimed. "And what security are you going to get?” “Must be good man, e hoa. The committee must like him." “And what interest will you charge?"

A Brief History. “Three shillings in the pound the month." , , “You infernal usurers,’ I gasped. “You’ll get put in gaol.” • •We have the long .talk that way, e hoa. Some say Is in the £i the month: hut we fix 3s in the £1 the month. That the way make him grow quick.” , „ , , “You are in error by only two letters,” I replied. "The money will go quick,” Next day the head of the tribe was over to help me with sheep work, when I said: “Waimarama, old chap, is it true that you are chairman of the Ohaki Bank?" “Ka tika (quite correct),” he answered. “Well, look here. My men want to get that £100," I said. “By sorry. I bury him all the same the dead man. Your man never find him," was his convincing but disappointing answer. The history of the Ohaki Maori Banking Company was brief. Business proceeded merrily for a month, by which time £6O had been let out to various members of Hie tribe. No penny of it, either principal or interest, lias ever been paid back. The remaining £4O was deposited in the Post Office Savings Bank at 3} per cent, per annum, and lias long since been spent in enjoyable entertainments relic cling great credit on the tribe. And so another experiment in banking for the benefit of the people failed. Doubtless those wicked German Jew ilnanciers of New York wrought its ruin in order to sustain their "timeworn, worm-eaten, out-of-date theories.