MAORI DEMAND FOR RETURN OF BODIES

Chronicle (Levin), 30 August 1946, Page 5

MAORI DEMAND FOR RETURN OF BODIES

WELLINGTON, August 29. j A perusal of the firovisions of the I bronte of \ ersaiJJes Jms established tlie ! l'act that there is a precedent for the retui'ii of tlie M aikato-Alauiapoto | oodics,' togelher with inany weapoiis of historical value, now iu tlie Aluseuni i oi' Naturai History in X'ienna, wlience I tliey were sont by Andreas Rieschek, I tlie Austrian collector, who was in New Zealand in tlie eighties. A petition urging that that should lie done was presented to Barliament last year by Barnett Alaniapoto Otene and olhers, and it was followed recentJy by another from Raureti Te Huia, a proniinent. Kihikihi chief, and others. It was stipulated in Article 246 oi: the Versailles Treaty that Germanv sliould restore to the Kiug of the Hedjas the original Korau which had belonge.d to the Caliph Osnian, also the skull of the Sultan Makaouna, both of which had been taken bv Germans from

the former Brotectorate of East Afriea. It was deereed that they should be returned througli the British Government. It was likewise stijmlated under Arli'de 131 that Germany should return to the Chinese Government certain astronomieal instnniieuts of nuich historie value wliieh had been taken from ('hina by Gernian tr.oops during tlie Boxer Iroubles in 1900. There is also a general deelaration in Article 245 that Germany should restore to France all trophies, arcliives, works of art, and liistorieal souvenirs, which had been removed by her 1 roops during thp Ernnco Prussian War of 1.S70. There is rnuch indignalion in Ar.nnri eireles that the ltodies taken bv Rie-. sehek withont pertnission should he alInwed to remain in the Tipuna Museum, and the appenl that they should be restored aS part of Ihe Peaee Treaty piovisinns to rnemhers of their families for intennent in aneestral ground hasl aet with considerable support. I