PUBLICATION USEFUL.

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 194, 18 August 1931, Page 3

PUBLICATION USEFUL.

ACTION BY GOVERNMENT.

TENTS TO BE REQUISITIONED,

_ Further reference to the problem of indigent Maoris was made to-day by Mrs. Mere Newton, president of the Maori Women's Welfare Lea-jue. > "M far as the publicity in° the 'Star' is concerned, I have to eoy that at first I was very much averse to saying anything," she remarked, "but the effect of the publication of the facts concerning the conditions under'which some of the Maori people have been living at Mangere has been so far-reaching that iny association has received its finst intimation of Government assistance.

"A communication from Wellington has been received by a Government Department to make investigations, and , representatives, at their own invitation, were shown round by me to ascertain the truth of the reports that have been published. 'Seeing is believing,' remarked one of these oflicers, and it was gencrallly admitted by the party that; the housing problem was most urgent. They promised to requisition tents, which would be provided with wooden floors, to be erected pro tern. I stressed the need of urgent consideration for the people occupying Ihumatao pa and pointed out that they were permanent residents and the descendants of the original owners of the land. If ways and means could be devised for them to work their land, comfortable livings could be obtained. The agricultural expert with the party eaid the land was good, and sufficient for cultivation. j

"We are now anxiously waiting to see if the reports on arrival at Wellington will bring about a solution of the problem of providing for natives who have no homes and who can only obtain casual work."