History – Loyalties questioned

By Jenny Schollum, Puhoi Historical Society

In the climate of hatred for anything German during the years of World War I, questions were asked about the loyalty of the people of Puhoi to the English crown, and it was suggested that maybe they should be interned. Puhoi had often been referred to as the German Settlement. Once when a Government official attended a meeting and asked who was the chairman, the settlers replied, “We’re all ‘Chermans’ here”. For the first 50 years it hadn’t mattered. They had come from Bohemia, on Austrian passports, spoke a Germanic dialect, and about a quarter of their surnames were Czech.

William Massey, the leader of the recently formed Reform Party, with five other present and past Members of Parliament, and a press contingent, had visited Puhoi in 1911. He was, at that time, the Leader of the Opposition. Mr Phillips, the member for the Waitemata Electorate which included Puhoi, was of the same party. They proceeded to the hall to participate in a banquet. Mr Massey paid tribute to the settlers of the North who, despite the difficulties of no roads and poor markets, had successfully carved out their homes and holdings. The party was known for its support of rural interests.

In 1917, a parliamentary party again travelled the north as guests of the North Auckland Executive and Development Board. Benedict Remiger, when welcoming them to Puhoi, stated that the early settlers had come from ‘the heart of Bohemia – the home of the old Czechish kings and people closely related to the Slavs’. He continued, “They have now lived here peacefully and contentedly for a little over half a century. The old pioneers were going the way of all flesh and the young generation was growing up in the laws and customs of the British Empire”.

By the time the Puhoi question reached Parliament in 1917, Mr Massey had become Prime Minister. He vouched for the loyalty of the settlers saying, “No more useful or industrious immigrants came to New Zealand than the men and women who settled at Puhoi and, as had been admitted, they had given proof of their loyalty to the British Sovereign on every possible occasion”.

The Puhoi settlers had, in fact, sent six men to the Boer War. Twelve had left New Zealand for the 1914 war with the Expeditionary Force before conscription was introduced. These men were sons of the Bohemians who had immigrated as children in 1863. In all, 102 men from Puhoi, Ahuroa and Waiwera, and Bohemian descendants from other areas served overseas, 21 losing their lives. Puhoi had subscribed liberally to patriotic funds, holding Queen Carnivals, dances and competitions to raise money. Puhoi Red Cross regularly sent parcels of clothing for the soldiers.

Nine members of the extended Turnwald family served including John who lost his life with the Camel Corps in Egypt and Larry who was awarded a Military Medal but unfortunately, because he spoke English with an accent, he was enrolled under the name Turnbull. Puhoi will commemorate Anzac Day at the Memorial gates on April 25 at 9am.