AT THE MONUMENT

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 7, Issue 39, 11 January 1944, Page 5

AT THE MONUMENT

THE TOWN KORERO STADIUM

WHERE THE MAORI EI/DERS MEET

Those "who have not noticed it before will, probably have- lio.cn somewhat. .surprised at the. growing number of elderly Maoris who regularly 011 Saturdays congregate at the Monument on the AVliakatane Strand, and having made themselves comfortable on the steps proceed to discuss the. major questions, of, the day. Over the holiday period the old Monument has become increasingly popular and; almost, any time they may be seen chatting away at their ease. From the distant inland Pahs they have come, and as the Maori waiting room at the Rock has now become, rather congested Avith women and children we see the older hands favouring the Monument as a meeting-place whereat, to swap a yarn and to talk of old times'. I't is' pleasing to note, some 1 of the dignllied old types of Maori folk who make lip the group. At the Monument, in sinte of the whirling traffic and the general liubub, we understand that some of. the major decisions of Maori policy are discussed. and finalised, and though to passing pakehas the group of 'Maoris in earnest conversation may spell nothing more than an ordinary f' ienelly korero, how is he. to know that the animated discussion may not be the deciding factor regarding big questions with a direct and personal bearing on his own town, or maybe himself.