MAORI DANCERS BARRED.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 289, 1 May 1911, Page 7

MAORI DANCERS BARRED.

THE BLUNDERING COLONIAL OFFICE. A difficulty has arisen this week regarding the proposed appearance of Maggie' Papakura's troupe of Maori dancers. at. the Festival of Empire Ui.e London correspondent of the Times, T urider date March 17th). Mr. '(Wrsa 'Bull, the London agent for tho tiroiipe!'which is now on its way to dondonj. .bad. I .arranged for it to take the,.New Zealand scene of the Pageant of .London at the Festival of 'Empire, 1 and to give exhibitions there of BflftgS' and dances. But the Colonial •Office# tvhich; has considerable influence i ,gf Empire matters, has , raised' to the Maoris appearltffc. " "It 'points' out that colored races ■'iSonCsotSiiaiiGSfcwn i Cbloriies are forbidden )fco apppar&t,BxWbitions in this country whieli arose out of the connected with the Zulu, village • k't S/'LoMcteiexhibition some years ago.' "Tfrcfn^lottal'' Office cannot forbid the] ■ appefirfance,oi 'the Maoris, but it has/ ..suffyqiea^influence .over the festival to'; raider, i$ unlikely.that the Maoris will] take s<li't''un®ks th 6' offcial objection is , ■"wth&riwa: Thfe High Commissioner for Nfewi -ZttHnHA iS the matter up, 't o persuade the .Colonial tlMce tci (and its sanction to the appearance of the Maoris at the f^tii*al. !r> T?o doflbt' he will point out that (ftbft '(Maoris' should not be classed ,as, savages,iand ; tha,tthey are in point! . pf ( ,fp:,t on ( ,a f plane altogether from the ! colored . races which the CMonsal' 'Office 'bail in mind when its 'ban flows Trflawd'- on'"native exhibitions. ' cliemtnd in London just t, r ,°upes. The Festival of Empire .Council arc anxious to have 'Mgglfe T^Alatfa'S''company. Mr. Imre ■ KSralf^,'««.'%h6"White 'City, also wants 'fMg?fyi»(MWArtr#ipe for his Coronaa demand the musichalls' Mre. , ' [ It is surprising at this time ■ tO'ifirftT/thd-'Colonial Office classWgMfehe rMntfratjo wiM natives from the iwffj, protectorates. The is-evidently a ' siiort t)ne.' Surely it has not forgotten I thai <sf' : list'Coronation the iZfcsatad oinfi ; "Australian troops ~ tJjxf?iteo,ed,.tq ,piaich• out of camp at JleMßdroj palace if, ;£!)<? Maori contingent was compelled to camp—as the War 'OffiM'ttjtetT •t'Sett 'ttt' do—in the same ' iliues-4? !tl»e LHa'ussKß from West Africa Even the !fiy'. 'Wi e ' r ' strong race l!s.. r e ' of putting the 'ftrnWia' <6fv l! ffie 'shmfi" footing with colorcJfli'r'iJCcsJ! v,lt.ild(sks"as : though the Colonial QffMfi-hasJWjUUidcred again into one of the mistakes of the "bad old - I