TRIBUTE PAID

Wairarapa Times-Age, 14 April 1943, Page 4

TRIBUTE PAID

TO THE LATE MR PAIKEA AND TO WAR EFFORT OF MAORI PEOPLE. MESSAGE FROM BRITISH GOVERNMENT. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. A tribute to the work of the late Mr P. K. Paikea and to the war effort of the Maori race is paid by the United Kingdom Government in a communication received by the Piime Minister (Mr Fraser) from Sir H. Bat- 1 terbee, British High Commissioner in New Zealand. “I have been requested by the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs (Mr Attlee) to inform you that his Majesty’s Government of the United Kingdom learnt with much regret of the death of Mr Paikea and to express their sympathy with New Zealand in the loss of a Minister who had so closely at heart the promotion of active co-operation by 'the Maori people in the war effort,” wrote Sir H Batterbee. “Mr Attlee asks me to assure you that the Government and people of Britain warmly appreciate the fine contribution of the Maori race to the common cause, in particular the magnificent fighting qualities which the Maori troops have displayed throughout all the fighting in North Africa, Greece and Crete. I shall be glad if I may be allowed to add my personal condolence in the New Zealand Government’s loss.” Replying, the Prime Minister expressed deep appreciation of the United Kingdom Government’s kindly condolences’. “I note with much satisfaction the fine tribute paid by the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs to the Maori war effort, for the success of which our late colleague was so largely responsible," wrote Mr Fraser. "The passing of Mr I aikea is indeed a very great loss, not only to the Government, but to New Zealand as a whole, and especially was it to the Maori people throughout the Dominion, in whose interests and for whose welfare he worked unremittingly.”