A MAORI ORATOR.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 49, 21 November 1907, Page 5

A MAORI ORATOR.

KAIHAU DENOUNCES THE MAORI LAND BILL.

AND RENOUNCES THE GOVERNMENT. -Henaro' Kaihau, the giant menjber for the Western Maori District, is the biggest .man in tlip New Zealand Parliament. He is considerably over six foet in height, and weighs more than-twenty stone. As a general rule his legislative duties sit lightly upon him, and he prefers the quiet ease of a in the wilds of the Waikato to the civilisation of the capital and the hurly-burly of Parliament House. On rare occasions, however, when he rises in the Houso of Representatives, tho easy-going good-natured -Honare becomes suddenly transformed into the impassioned Maori orator, and ( the House an'* the galleries listen spellbound. On Tuesday night 'he made a really eloquent speech on the second reading of tho Maori Land Bill. He is the ono Maori member who cannot speak in English, so he avails himself of tho services of the interpreter (Mr. Barclay), who is never at a loss for a good Saxon word, and who, indeed; speaks as good English as any member in tho House. The modulations of Henare Knihau's voice, .and his wonderfully expressive gesticulations, compel attontion, while the olfectiveness of his oratory seems to lose little if anything becauso its meaning comes to English ears second-hand, per medium of the interpreter. Mr. Kaihau was in his best form, and, as the Ladies' -Gallery and all the qthor gallerios were. packed, and the Houso itself was unusually full, he had a good audienco. His denunciation of the Bill was emphatic, and his renunciation of the Government and all 'its works—in respect to the • Maori— equally so. "I," he said, suddenly stretching forth his! great arms, "have always supported the Government. I have supported them for many years; hilt look at me now! I have been thrown away whero.l will never be seon'! by anyone." The idea of the burly Kaihau being "thrown" away and of his being "invisible" was too much for honourable members, and they laughed loudly. . But Kaihau was not disconcerted. his voico sink' to a quiet silvery tone, he continued —"I remember ono occasion on which there was a very close division in this House, and the Government only won by one vote. That was my vote.—(Laughter.)— "Now they say, 'What's* the use of your vote?' But I tell you," ho added, pointing to the Treasury benches, "I was not returned to this House by you —tho Government. It was my people who put mo here. But I have assisted you, and liavo kept you in those seats.—(Laughter.)—Now I warn you that the day is coming when you will sink into insignificance.—(Laughter.)—No man can stand in one position for ever, and you are not going to do that." Finally Mr. Kaihau warned the Government that they could no longer rely upon his support. His half-hour's limit having been reached, ho pleaded with Mr. Speakor for another half hour. '"I have an immense amount of material which I am bursting to lay before this House," he said, dramatically holding up "five pages of condensed notes," and tho House laughed again. "Now, Mr. Speaker, are you going to stop me, or let me go on?" lie asked, pleadingly, and, there being, a chorus of '"Ayes" and no dissenting voice, tho Speaker gave the necessary permission, whereat there was a hearty round of applause. . ' Tho big Maori member then gracefully thanked Air. Speaker and the House, and plunged once moro into a denunciation of tho proposed legislation. If it wore agreed to, he said, tho House would be so full of Maori petitions that members would not be ablo to got into it, and ho and his peoplo would take the matter to England and placo it before the King. ' He concluded an impassioned speech by moving that tho Bill be read a second time next year, in order that it might be properly considered by tho Maori people.