MAORI MEMORIES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 8 March 1939, Page 2

MAORI MEMORIES

RULE OF THREE. (Recorded by J.H.S. for “Times-Age.”) On Sir George Grey’s first arrival in New Zealand he was faced with a triangular difficulty. The British Government, who provided enormous sums of money for pur military operations, insisted upon having, control of all “Native Affairs,” of which they knew absolutely nothing. The Colonial Government who had to provide funds from the scanty revenue for all other, administrative purposes, and who believed they understood the requirements, naturally desired to have authority. The Maoris, who owned the country by right of discovery (Kite hou) and even more definitely that of occupation (Warea) for thirty generations (Whakapapa), naturally felt they should have a part in its government. Yet when the Constitution was conferred upon New Zea l land they were forgotten. No provision was made for their care or their in- J terests. They were excluded from the electoral rolls and from both Chambers of the Legislature. Like our League of Nations today, their language and traditions were strange to us and ours to them, a condition which does not help toward mutual good will and understanding. Even today the Maori electors have no vote in the singularly unjust triangular duel wherein their 30 or 40 thousand voters would seek to destroy their worst enemy. Waipiro. Until Sir George Grey’s second term of Government, the British Parliament, then separated by twelve months reply to urgent demands. had sole authority. Just imagine such conditions of relief without steamers, telegraph, telephone, aviation, or radio, when sailing ships carrying urgent despatches were sometimes lost and never heard of again.