GRATEFUL MAORIS

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1975, 4 February 1914, Page 7

GRATEFUL MAORIS

LETTER TO'THE PRIME MINISTER. Critics of the amended policy which the Reform Government applied last year to-some l of tho Native lands included in the West Coast Settlement Reserves will find food for thought in the subjoined translation of, a letter, which has Been sent to the. Right Hon. ,W. F. Massey (Prime Minister), from Okaiawa, on behalf of tho Maori owners concerned. .The translation reads:— -. "Sir,—May you live always (ora . tonu), you-.and .your. Government.' . : .in, tlie "New .-Year.. May all., good , ; things •be granted to you by the Father in, Heaven in return-for this great sign. (or proof) of your lovo. which you have given and bestowed upon your humble people living here - in tho West Coast confiscated district. For you havo struck off tho chains with which our hands and. lands were bound up by methods which have recently passed behind ' you. You have overthrown the high mountains and mado them level land . 'so that all men may stand on an equal footing and be one. people, 1 tho pakeha and the Maori, so that • past days may bo swept away altogether with the past misunderstandings .between the two races. For _. you .know that tho bad odour ex- '.' isting as to the tribes of this dis- •'- trict was known to all the people '■'.of tho world from tho time they /Wore enslaved even unto the prc'sent day. But it has been you ' who have 6\vcpt away this cbndi- " tion. or state of affairs and made us your own people and you have mado yourself our father. Soon there will be a day when you willagain see your people face to face. Kia ora to you, your Ministers, and your Government. May your days be long and may you bo abundantly blessed by the Father in .Heaven." Signed: Pouwhare TJmutoi,: president of tho Federated Union of. the Maori tribes of the West Coast Confiscated Area.