ORAKEI GRIEVANCES

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 28, 27 October 1937, Page 12

ORAKEI GRIEVANCES

— Press Assooiation.)

Maoris Promise to Refrain irom Violence KORERO HELD

(By Telegraph-

AUCKLAND, Last Night. as a sequel to the series of events at the historic church reserve at Orakei iduring tho past few weeks the Maori occupants of tho land concerned assembled on the verandah of the old house formerly occupied by the schoolrnaster this afternoon for a korero with Mr. F. O. V. Acheson, Judge of the Native Land Court, an interpreter from the Native Land Court, Rev. R. G. Coats, president of the Friends of Orakei, and Rev. W. G. Panapa. The purpose of Mr. Acheson 5s visit was to advise the Maoris to refrain from resisting the encroachmbnts of departmental employees with violence. The first incident leading to the deadlock which has been rea&hed occurred about a month ago when contr-act workmen attempted to take down a boundary fence for the purpose of taking a tractor through to make oxcavAtlons preparatory to laying down roads. On that occasion.the endeavours of the workmen were met with angry words by elderly Maori women living in whares on the property, but the tractor was eventually driven through for about a chain and a-half. The Maoris latgr restored the fence. Similar endeavours on the part oi workmen were met with violence on Thursday last and when it appeared that the work was to be carried out an elderly Maori woman attacked a workman with clenched fists driving him off An engineer was later brougnt to' thg Scene and work was not proceeded with. Early this afternoon a-veteran Maori woman expressed her intention of resisting any further efforts in the samo manner as last Thursday and the general attitude pervading the community gave indication that further trouble uiight be expected. A vigil was being maintained and one Maori woman pulled out several survey pegs. Prior to the arrival of Mr. Acheson about six of tho women and three men were assembled by Revs. Coats and Panapa and when Mr. Acheson arrived he was greeted with a haka of welcome in true Maori fashion. The discussion was held in the open air. The natives first expressed regret that thero was not a greater attendance but explained that most of the men were fiway at work. The discussion lasted for over an hour and the Maoris were left in a much happier framo oi tnind at the conclusion of the korero. Mr, Acheson said he had impressed upon the natives that the Court dealt solely with matters of reslstance to the law and he advised them not to weaken their case with any show of violence as if their case were strong it would only be. weakened by violence on their part. The Court would ofi'er to discuss with the natives as far as the church reserve was concerned with a view to reaching a satisfactory solution of the whole trouble if such negotiations were acceptable to the Governmenx. "The natives have prpmised not to commit any assault pending the results of such negotjations,55 said Mr. Acheson. "I propose to visit the area to seo exactly what works are proposed at the present moment. Pending such a s«tlement I have also assured the natlivei that there is no immediate intention on the part of the Government to remove them from their homes. At the conclusion of the talk this afternoon they were certainly in a much happier frame of mind."