NOT FOR THE MAORI.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18410, 17 June 1925, Page 11

NOT FOR THE MAORI.

SIR MAUI POMARE ON-EXTREME LABOUR POLICY. .In addressing a gathering of Maoris at "Wanganui; not long ago, Sir Maul Pomare touched upon somp features of the policy-of the extreme-Labour Party winch" might be expected, in. his opiuion, to interest,' though not to attract, tho members of tbo Native race. Subsequently, he was attacked by tho "New Zealand Worker," and accused of having, indulged in "all sorts of abuse and misrepresentation of Labour. ■*.',, , Speaking to a "Dominion;' reporter on Fridav, Sir Maui Pomare said tha„ he did not know why these charges should be levelled against him. "All that I did." ho said, "was just to nuetc their programme, and ask my hearers how they would- like" to sco this item or that translated into law." Pvcfrcshing his memory by referring to a newspaper report of the speech to which exception had been taken, .the Minister said he had pointed out that the objective'of the Labour.Party was the "socialisation of tho. means'of production, distribution, and exchange." On this'hc'had commented:."The. Maori people have barely emerged from a communistic system of living, and we arc to be pushed back into the same thing, of course with' variations! " Other -excerpts from tho Labour policy, and his comments thereon, the Minister *added, wore:— •.- ;_ • . • _ Proportional representation: Ido not know how the system of proportional representation would suit ■ the Maori people. It might giro thorn a maximum representation of one m the House of Representatives." Abolition of the Legislative Council: "This would do away with three Maori rncmbers." . Abolition of all private ■ bank 3: "That is going to affect Katana with his bank." . • . ■ L Repeal of the Military Service Act and-the Defence Act: "How is that going to appeal to a warlike people like the Maoris'?" " Eefcrring in his speech to the "inter-. nationalism" of the.. Labour-Party,, and to the talk of its members about frater- ! nitv, th\ -Minister ! observed that t}n only man who ever insulted him in tho House of Representatives was a Labour member, who.did not hesitate to call i him "a black nigger." The condign .punishment-inflicted on the offending member makes a little story in itself.