AKARANA ASSOCIATION.

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 56, 7 March 1931, Page 19

AKARANA ASSOCIATION.

CHILDREN'S COURT APPOINTEE. Mr. E. C. Cutten, S.M., having agreed to the representation of the Akarana Maori Association at the Children's Court, Mrs. Rewa. Bennett has been appointed to attend sittings when native children are involved. The association discussed at its meeting the recent report of the Wellington Harbour Board in regard to the employment of Maoris. The Auckland Harbour Board, it was stated, had quite a number of Maori and half-caste Maoris in its employ, and no difficulty had ever occurred in the matter of payment of compensation arising from accidents during their work. Apart from this, these employees were canvassed by insurance companies, which never showed discrimination between Europeans and Maoris. In response to requests from a number of schools, several women members were authorised to give demonstrations of Maori flax-weaving and plaiting. The association intends to arrange a series of debates in the native language. and a member. Mr. Andrew Rollo, has asrreed to organise study classes. Privileges will be extended to Europeans interested. A number of Kaipara residents appealed for the association's support against the decision of the Education Board to close the native school at Woodhill and to send the pupils to a "mired"' school at Helensville. Opinion was expressed that the sending of the native children to a school so distant was a hardship. Further inquiry is to be made in the matter.