Letters: Facts on United Tribes flag distorted

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The item referring to "the flag of the United Tribes" and "an independent state" (Text Views, February 18) is a peculiar distortion of historical facts.

On October 28, 1835, 35 chiefs and heads of tribes from North Cape to the Thames River assembled at Waitangi. They had been called together by the British Resident, James Busby, who was reacting to rumours of French annexation and the plan of adventurer Charles de Thierry to establish an independent state in the Hokianga area.

A document proclaiming the independence of our country and beseeching King William to "protect our infant state from all attempts on its independence" was presented to the assembly. It was signed by the tribal representatives under the title of the United Tribes of New Zealand.

As our country had no constitutional status at the time, the declaration was not ratified.

The tribal representatives never convened again and Busby's dream of uniting the often fractious tribes under one flag was not realised. Strangely, his dream has passed into history as the flag of the United Tribes of New Zealand.

It is a copy of our first national flag.

HUGH WILSON

Rotorua

This Government is demanding cuts in health, military, police, in fact all public-service spending. In reality the amounts required can only be achieved through a drastic reduction of staff numbers, a large proportion would have to be frontline.

The same Government is asking for submissions (non-binding) on a referendum, in the hope of bettering a grossly over-represented, inefficient and expensive parliamentary system, making it clear a reduction in MP numbers is not on the board.

I fear for the future of New Zealand if we, the apathetic people of this country, are not prepared to stand up to the dictates of Parliament and remind them they - as are all public servants - are our employees and demand all limitations to the referendum be removed and any reforms be binding.

Reiterating a proposal I made some time ago - compulsory voting, prime minister elected by popular vote, parliamentary seats 80 to 90, Cabinet ministers 20 each, 5 per cent of the party vote equates to one minister, candidates standing in an electorate cannot be be on a party list.

JAMES MEGSON

Rotorua

 

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