MAORI MEMORIES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 16 March 1939, Page 3

MAORI MEMORIES

MAORI OFFICIALS.

(Recorded by J.H.S. for “Times-Age.”) The appointment of Maoris as magistrates, assessors, and policemen to adjudicate among the tribes was not a success. Even Wiremu te Wheoro, a really intelligent young Maori magistrate failed, because of the attitude of his people who were loyal to the Maori King. An old Maori woman who paddled an Englishman down the river for a shilling, laughed scornfully when he told her that Te Wheoro’s tribe was loyal to the British Queen —“Yes,” she said, “some are on the Queen’s side, two assessors, two wardens, and six policemen, all the rest are faithful to our King.” She then smoked in silent contempt of her passenger for the four hours journey. The King’s party made no objection to assessors and other officials being appointed among them, for it was well known that every Maori magistrate paid nearly half his stipend to the King as a condition of being permitted to retain the balance.

The Maoris declared that having failed to conquer them, we were now trying to bribe them into submission. They openly scorned both attempts.

After a trial between two tribes concerning the ownership of an eel weir, the losing party handed in the King’s flag and gave their allegiance to Queen Victoria. Their chief and several of his friends becoming paid officers of the Government.

A resolution to levy a poll-tax of £1 upon every white man in the King's territory to augment the scanty revenue of the Royal household, was carried but met with no response, except from small traders who had to hand over goods of that value or be subjected to a boycott.