MAORI MEMORIAL CEREMONIES

Press, Volume LXXXII, Issue 24897, 10 June 1946, Page 6

MAORI MEMORIAL CEREMONIES

TRIBUTES PAID BY PRIMF MINISTER (P.A.) GISBORNE, June fl. The Prime Minister (the Rt Hon. P. Fraser) and the Minister of Native Affairs (the Hon. H. G. R. Mason), accompanied by Mr D. W. Coleman and Mr T. Omana, Members of Parliament visited Hiruharema, East Coast » Saturday and participated in ge veiling of a memorial to Mrs Maters Reedy, grandmother of Lieutenant * Nganmu, V.C., and a leading WWg of the Ngati-porou tribe. The ceremony was attended by more 2000 natives and Europeans. The Cabinet party took part in otner ceremonies, including the openiM » the Ngatamatoa Hall, on the hnuharema marae, dedicated to warn r; of the East Coast peoples, and alsc rededication of the ancient house (which was recently reconstructed) commemorating the elders w the tribe in earlier days. The Prime Minister paid a tflig to the Maori’s personality and to w beneficent influence of Mrs Reeayt said equality of races in the Dommw“ was a vital plank in the ernment’s platform, and referrea the social services which the shared with Europeans as of ngnj During the day, Maoris andtumpeans present contributed £zuw wards the marae funds. Referring to a suggestion oy a Apirana Ngata. who conducted tne P* ceedings, Mr Fraser said this time when the Government migo* asked to make provision for the c couragement of native arts and crai towards which Sir Apirana Ngawn* made an outstanding contribution.