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Salient. Victoria University Student Newspaper. Volume 39, Issue 3. 15th March [1976]

Fighting for Justice

Fighting for Justice

Don Borrie a minister associated with the Student Christian Movement, said that the Maori protest movement was not dividing the country (as anonymous shouts from the floor maintained), but was fighting for justice. Simple enough?

He saw the need for leadership (governmental) to be based on people, not power or money.

The 'justice' which Mr Borrie spoke of is not a black and white situation. It is complex - grey You have only to read an article in the weekly magazine 'Listener' (11 Oct. 1975) to comprehend how complex and delicate is the whole question of Maori land.

To give any substance to this 'ideal' justice requires on the part of the Matakite movement a sound accurate knowledge of the situation as regards Maroi land - past, present and future

The Hilda Phillips article clarifies (assuming she is speaking from a sound, knowledge base) certain misunderstandings concerning Maori' land. She examines the terms 'Maori' and European land' explains the land tenure system which operates in New Zealand today and its effect on land owned by Maoris. She questions the belief that the 2½ million acres remaining Maori land is the only land in Maori ownership. I strongly recommend this article to anyone who wishes to gain a clearer understanding of the issues involved.

Don Borrie's reference to leadership is unhelpful Since when can leadership be separate from power; how else can leadership be effective except with power to operate. Certainly abuse of power and the exercise of it arbitrarily are bad. However, the meaning of his statement (if I have uncovered it) was not conveyed clearly to those listening. The ideas and their impact were lost in the absence of offective expression