MAORI HOUSING.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue LXXI, 14 September 1940, Page 7

MAORI HOUSING.

WAIROA POSITION.

NEED FOR EDUCATION.

GISBORNE, this day.

The bad state of Maori housing in the Wairoa district was mentioned by the health inspector reporting to the Wairoa County Council. He stated that' a Maori council had been set up and also local committees, and through this machinery it was hoped to do something \ to bring about improvements.

The chairman, Mr. A. T. Carroll, stated he had discussed the question of Maori housing with the Minister of

Native Affaire, the Hon. F. Langstone, while on a recent visit to Wairoa, and also with Judge Carr. It was learned from them that Maori houses were being erected at the rate of one a week at present. However, this was not in the Wairoa district. The object of these committees was to impress upon the Maoris the importance of taking a little pride in their homes. Some were all right, but others were definitely wrong. Committees were being formed as rapidly a 6 possible. The first thing was to teacli the Maoris to look after their own affairs, and it was high time this was done.

Mr. D. H. Koberteon said no trouble would arise through Maoris living in houses that were small, provided they kept them clean. The direction in which Maoris needed educating was in drainage and cleaning up refuse, which was | often left lying about outside the houses [to breed disease.