2YA's Maori Night

Radio Record, Volume I, Issue 31, 17 February 1928, Page 7

2YA's Maori Night

A TRIBUTE TO THE PARTY

PHE Maori Party! Of their work no‘thing more requires to be said, Its excellence is an record in the memories, long to be cherished, of the thousands of tisteners whose -privilege it was to enjoy perhaps the most notable-cer« tainly the most tunique-programme that has been broadcast from this side of the world. "Maori concert delight= ful beyond expression!" So read one of the innumerable congratulatory telegrams which poured into 2YA_ from all parts of the Dominion, Yes, of their work no more uced or could be Said. But what of the party themselves? They were Maaris, you know. Their forefathers, by mo means vemote, were "in the common acceplation of civilisa tion-savages! Less than one hundred years ago, as Mr. Hamiora Hakopa reminded his listeners, his forbears were-well, shall we say, uncivilised. A great people, yes! Stalwart, courageous, chivalrous, yes! But still a native beople living in primitive simplicity in a land primeval. Yet the party who came to 2YA in this wear of grace, a

party whose members were in. every respect typical of the Maoris of to day, were, from tke oldest to the youngest, a party of ladies and gentle-men-cultured, refined, delightful, louable. As one visitor to the studio rex marked, "to see them was to yearn to know them, to know them was to love mm?’ And that, really, was the im pression they creatcd. They were so obviously happy, so sincerely friendly, so keenly enthusiastic about the task 1 hand. Better leader than Mr. Mete Ningi, the party could not have had, He was the vrangitira to whom all -looked for guidance-a counseHor and friend at all times dignified and debendable, Associated with him as jeint-organiser was Mr. Reg. Ritchie, than whom the Maori people have no warmer admirer, and no truer friend. Ifr. Kitson, too, must not be forgotten. He it was who helped them in the preparation of the musical portion of the programme, and officiated capably as their conductor. To his training and direction of their talent the Maori party owe much of their great success,