MAORIS AND THE WAR.

Taranaki Daily News, 8 May 1916, Page 8

MAORIS AND THE WAR.

WHY WAIKATOS AND TARANAKIS DO NOT ENLIST. XL H-liU HEU AND A PROPHECY. Interesting sidelights 011 the point of view of (lie Maori in regard to the war were put before the Minister of_ Defence (Hon. J. Allen) by Mr. Te*"Heu Heu Tukina and his wife. They pointed out to the Minister that tiiey had just come from an interview with the w !"w of Mahuta (once known as the '"■'i'i King) and from Te Rata, the soft) lied Afaori King. The widow of Malr.ita represented that her son Tonga was to lie prosecuted for not attending Territorial parades—not his first offence. The widow of Mahuta maintained that this hov the only one who supported her. '"lt is the desire of the Waikato people, and of To Rata himself," said Mr, Te Heu Heu, "to assist the Hon. Dr. Pomare in recruiting. . , That is the only mattev that is keeping the people back. Of all the Native tribes the only people holding aloof are the Taranaki people, not the Waikatos. The Waikatos are agreeable to go. Mr. Allen: The Waikatos have not enlisied.

Mr. Te Heu Heu: No, because of this. The Taranaki people absolutely refuse to go; the Waikatos make a provision.

Mr. Allen: I'd! me, have there been any Maoris who have gone from Taranaki to the v.'ar?

Mr. Te Heu Heu: Ves, they have run away and gone of tlieir own accord, but not at the expressed wish of the people. Mr. Allen: Bui they have gone to the war? Mr. Te Heu Heu: Yes. Mr. Allen: How many hare gone from the Waikato?

Mr. Te Heu Heu: I do not know,' I know of about five who went with the !>th Reinforcements. There may have been others.

The Minister went 011 to point out the boy .was only required to undergo the usual training of a Territorial, and that he was not to be compelled to go to the war.

A? to the real reason why the Waikatos are not enlisting, Mr. Te Hen Heu 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 to you—the white man,' and Tawhiao then got hold of about'eighty guns and gave them back to Major Mail - . And he said, 'Take war with you 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 enlistjng and recruiting will recoil on the head of your supposed king if yon 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 the cause of their objection to recruiting, and now that I am clear as to the position of the matter I shall certainly write to the widow and explain the position to lior." 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 n»t 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 excuse.

The Minister: If you have the opportunity, please convey to them this message of mine. New Zealand is the land iii which the Waikatos and other Natives and pakehas have their homes./ We all love our country and our home*. I believe that the Waikatos would fight to retain their homes; they have done so in the past. Mr. Te Ileu Heu: That is quite right.

The Minister: Now, if the other Na- I tives and pakehas took up the (mine at-*| titude 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 line with the other Natives who have done such splendid work for New Zealand and the Native race, j

Mr. Te Heu Hen': 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 yen may see them. That was one of the statements that I made to the Waikatss 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 1 , and, when we come with our bulldog all he lias to do is to bite the leg of each.boy who is eligible and take him away."

Hon. M. Allen: Is there any objection t« 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.