MAORI WELFARE

Evening Post, Volume CXXXVIII, Issue 95, 19 October 1944, Page 8

MAORI WELFARE

PROBLEMS OF THE LAND

The sense of frustration under which the Maori has laboured in the past had been largely removed, though there was still much to achieve, said the Native Minister (Mr. Mason) at the Maori conference yesterday. He dealt with proposed legislation for the consolidation of Maori lands. They all knew how Maori land settlement had been held up by the division of ownership. This was a matter of the first importance and should be pushed ahead as a preliminary to land development. Mr. Mason dealt with the committee set up for each district. More rapid progress was to be expected as man-power and materials became more freely available.

The Minister of Agriculture (Mr. Roberts) said he hoped to be in a position later in the conference to make some remarks on the question of agriculture and horticulture for Maoris. (Applause.) He stressed, however, that whatever the Government decided would be dependent largely on the self-reliance and self-determina-tion of the Maori people themselves. They were assembled to discuss and exchange views on physical, economic, industrial, social, and moral well-being, both in relation to themselves and their pakeha friends, said Mr. Tirikatene. These problems must be approached not only from a tribal standpoint, but from the viewpoint of the people as a whole and with strict honesty of purpose. A great responsibility rested on the conference in putting forward recommendations for better co-operation.

During the afternoon discussion took place on the following subjects:— Rights and privileges of the Maori race; education and vocational training; health, housing, and sanitation; Maori war effort and rehabilitation; Maori councils and future policy; land and claims.

Committees were set up to bring down reports on the discussions.