VICE-REGAL VISIT

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 13, Issue 11, 22 October 1948, Page 4

VICE-REGAL VISIT

Sir, —May I say a word on the Maori view of the reception tendered to His Excellency the GovernorGeneral and Lady Freyberg? - From a Maori point of view .the affair .was most disappointing and incomplete. We feel that the Maori section of our community was ignored in the matter of expressing a few words of welcome on behalf of the Maori people and the members of our Maori Battalion who had served under His Excellency’s generalship. It may be of interest to mention that the majority of members in the late Maori Battalion were vounnteers from the Maoris in the Bay of Plenty. We feel that 5 or 6 minutes could have been spared for this purpose during the proceedings. Two leading Chiefs, members of the two local tribes (Tuhoe and Apanui) were present in the hope that one of them would be called on to say a few words of welcome on behalf of our large Maori population. One of these leading Chiefs journeyed from Ruatoki for the purpose of expressing a few words of welcome, owing to the fact that the local Chief was unable to attend on account of illness.

It was expected by our Maori people that the procedure adopted in the last reception extended to the past Governor-General would have been adopted on this occasion, as it was most pleasing and satisfactory to all sections of our community in the' district. We do express the hope that in future receptions extended to His Majesty’s representative visiting our district that our Maori people will be afforded an opportunity of expressing their devotiori and loyalty to His Majesty the King through the Governor-General. Yours ect., J. KEEPA. 20/10/48.