MAORIS AND THE WAR.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXX, Issue 28, 8 May 1916, Page 4

MAORIS AND THE WAR.

WHY SOME NATIVES WILL NOT ENLIST. AN OLD PROPHECY AMD A WRONG IDEA. MINISTER EXPLAINS. Interesting sidelights on the point of view of the Maori in regard to the war were put before the Minister of Defence (Hon. J. Allen) on Thursday by Air.To Hen Heu Tukino and his wife. They pointed out to the .Minister that they had just come from an interview with the widow of Mahuta oaie known as the Maori king) and from Te Rata, the so-called -Maori king. The widow of Mahuta represented that her son Tonga was to be prosecuted for not attending Territorial parades—not his first offence. The widow of Mahuta maintained that this hoy was the only oue who supported her. "It is the desire of the Waikato people, and of Te Eata himself," said Mr Te Heu Heii, "to assist the Hon. Dr. Poniare in ie muting. . . That is the only n Jitter that is keeping the people back. Of all the Native tribes the only people holding aloof are the laranaki peopl.;, not the Waikatos. The Waikatos are agreeable to go. Hon. Mr Allen: The Waikatos have not enlisted. Mr Te Heu Heu: No, because of this. The Taranaki people absolutely refuse to go; the Waikatos make a provision. ' • Mr Allen: Tell me, have there been any Maoris who have gone from Taranaki to the war? Mr Te Heu Heu: Yes, they have run away and gone of their own accord ? but not at the expressed wish of the people. Mr Allen: But they have gone to the

Mr Te Heu Heu : Yes. Mr Allen: How many have gone from the Waikato? • Mr Te Heu Heu: I do not know. I know of about five who went with the sth Reinforcements. There may have been others. The Minister went on to point outthat the boy was only required to un-, dergo the usual training of a Territorial, and that he was not to be compelled to go to the war.; - . .;. As to the real reason why the Wai--katos are not enlisting, Mr Te Heii. Hen said he knew. "They are adhering,'' he declared, "to prophecies made; by ! Tawhiao in the' old days. Tawhiao stated that, 'As to war, I will leave,it, t 0 you— the white man,' and. Tawhiap then got'hold of about eighty guns and g'aVe 1 them back to Major iMair, :, And he said,- 'Take war with yon to your, own land—to England.' In regard to this matter, we have had great arguments with the people, who still adhere to this statement, or prophecy. During the meeting at Christmas time I said that 'your objections to enlisting and recruiting will recoil pn, the head of your supposed king if you do not listen to our arguments to let the boys go to the front.' Ever since that; time I have been most anxious to probe' into this particular matter, which they, say is 1 the cause of their objection to' recruiting, and now .that I am quite clear as to the position of the matter I shall certainly'write to the widow and explain the position to her." In # the course of his final words, the Minister said:—"Just one final word about the Waikatos enlisting. You have given me two reasons now why you think they will not enlist: one that Tonga Mahuta is called upon to serve in the Territorial forces, not for the war, because he has not enlisted; and the'other on account of the prophecy of Tawhiao, Apparently the reason which concerns' Tonga Mahuta has no foundation, because his mother is under a misapprehension. We cannot make him go to the war; that is purely a voluntary act at present. As regards the other, the prophecies of the past, may I not suggest that the realities of the present are of more importance to the Waikatos and to New Zealand than the imaginations of the

past ? Mr Te Heu Heu: It is only an exThe Minister: If you have the oppor- • unity please convey to them this message of mine. New Zealand is the land in which the Waikatos and other Natives and pakehas have their home. We all love our country and our homes. I believe that the Waikatos would fight to retain their homes; they have done so in the past. Mr Te Heu Heu : That is quite right. The Minister: Now, if the other Natives and pakehas took up the same attitude that the Waikatos have so far done, what protection would we have for our homes and our fair land of New Zealand? I would urge them, therefore, to reconsider the question and come into lino with the other Natives who have done such splendid work for New Zealand and the Native race. Mr Te Heu Heu: I am more than satisfied. With regard to your statement that you have not had an opportunity of meeting the Waikatos face to face, possibly there may be an occasion in the future when you may see ihem. That was one of the statements that I made to the Waikatos during the Christmas meeting. I told them that all the other tribes were alive and bestirring themselves to send their sons to the war. and the Waikatos should do likewise. And if they do not bestir themselves "we will come with our bulldog and when we come with our bulldog' all he has to do is to bite the leg of each boy who is eligible and take him away." Hon. Mr Allen: Is there any objection to my publishing this if I think it necessary. Mr Te Heu Heu: That is just what should be done. Then they will know that I have represented the matter to you.