"If The Hen Crows, Screw Its Neck"

Chronicle (Levin), 29 November 1949, Page 7

"If The Hen Crows, Screw Its Neck"

WELLINGTON, Nov. 28. "If the hen crows, serew its neck!" This saying had been quoted to him by tribal- leaders who opposed the selection of a woman for the Western Maori seat, Mr Hoeroa Marumaru, National eandidate, told a meeting at Ngati Ponehe Hall yesterday. Alaori tradition, particularly in Tauranga, Waikato, . Maniapoto, and eerta.in parts of Taranaki, had been outraged by. a'departure from tradition, said. Mr Marumaru. ,The kawa, or tapu, of the Tainui eanoe had been broken by trying to foree a woman into the position.of a'man. Speaking later at Porirua, Mr Maru- • maru, who described Mrs Ratana as a Women of character and closely related to himself, said that surely there were men in the Labour and Ratana movements who codld not only tiave filled the position but also had a justiflable claim on the seat. The selection was also a mistake, added Mr Marumaru, because Mrs Ratana was not in a fit state of health to undertake a campaign, though she had begun it even. before obtaining the G-overu-' ments nomination. "The Ratanaites put Peter Fraser, Jim Roberts, and the rest of them on the mat, and they had to accept her." Mr. Marumaru said, "and the rest' oi you people have had to do likewise. You have had a eandidate forced on you. The final decision was raiade by a pakeha committee, not by Maoris." Mr Marumaru also disclosed that lie had beeu approached by Ratanaites, even during the present campaign, to accept their nomination. "That oft'er was made on the open marae by Kanapu Haerehuka, and 1 appreciated the honour intended," he said, "but 1 told them they knew where I have always'stood, and I had no intention of forswearing my principles. ' ' It was dif&cult to know where some Maoris stood, continued the eandidate. Mr. Taari Larkins, who was also travrelling with Mrs. Ratana and had spoken in support of her candidature in Wellington and cJsewhere, had pro posed a vote of eonfidence in hiinseli at a recent National Party meeting at Putiki. (Laughter.) If the eandidate approved of the Maori people aceepting the Treaty of Waitangi from Queen Victoria, asked Mr. George Katene, why did he oppose the selection of Mrs. Ratana? "You want to read a little mere history," Mr. Marumaru replied. "Queen Victoria was born to the position. Xly relative Mrs. Ratana was not. Besides, the pakehas differ aniong theniseJves on that point. The Hanoverians would not have Queen Victoria. The Queen had to send hef uncle there to be King. ' * There was no doubt about the Government going out, he continued, and even the Ratanaites were awakenyig to that fact. The pakehas were sick and tired of restrictions and excessi\ e taxation. -, The eandidate was questioned at both meetings as to wkether Mr. Holland, if he,,assumed officd, would interfere with social seciirity hnd other benelits. "Mr. Holland has repeatedlv stated that there will be no interference," he replied, "and I believe him." Pressed further, Mr. Marumaru said that if such an attempt were made he would resign his seat. "No Government could possibly last if it interfefed with benehtS.J' added. "We know it/ ■ You ne§d h^a^ no f ear. ' '