ADVANCE WHAKATANE

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 3, Issue 289, 31 March 1941, Page 4

ADVANCE WHAKATANE

Sir, —I note in the BEACON that the local Chamber of Commerce is considering "Onward," "Forward," ♦''Advance" or some other lively wording for a motto. No doubt they have by now decided on a suitable motto, so it is a bit late for me to ask: "What's wrong with a motto in Maori?" Surely we here have plenty of Maori history. Did not the chief Toroa sail his Matatua canoe over tile bar in A.D.—(l'm no good at dates) and occupy a section on the Strand without having rent, rates, or rubbish collection. Now what did Toroa say? Perhaps he said "Onward and Upward" (looking at the cliffs belvind the town). Or he may have which I understand' "Let's wait a few more years (e.g. for the municipal rubbish collection waggon, the new* post office, the swimming baths and the Ohope road, etc.). No doubtour local Maori, scholars can think of some such scrap of local Maori history to devise a motto for the local representatives of "the Nation of Shopkeepers." What was it thfvt Rewi Maniapoto said in 1864 when lie hurled defiance at the British beseiging army at Orakau? Whj r he said (in Maori, of course): "We will fight on for ever and ever." Excuse my lack of knowledge of Maori, but it ended up "Alee Ake, 5 * 1 believe. Wouldn't that do for our Chamber of Commerce (in Maori, of course). Imagine the effect when the Prime Minister, the Mayor, or oiher powers that be get a letter from the local Chamber in future years with a demand (not a request) for a new post office and a rubbish collection respectively. The Prime Minister and the Mayor will think of replying as usual "I shall keep it steadily in view," when their respective eyes will notice the Chamber's defiant motto: "We Willi fight for ever and ever." After which they will capitulate to the Chamber and reply "OK. boys its yours." That's my idea of a motfo. AKE AKE.