THE MAORI CONGRESS.

Press, Volume LXIV, Issue 13170, 17 July 1908, Page 7

THE MAORI CONGRESS.

CmiSS ASSOCIATION TXUEOKAH.)

WELLINGTON, July 16

A discussion on Maori councils and sanitary inspectors took place at the Maori Congress to-day.

The Hon. J. Carroll, in an addiess, said he was pdeased to find that the Maoris were now ready to regard Maori councdla seriously, and not look upon them as playthings, as once thero was some disposition to do. ■' It had been said that the Act, under -which the councils got their power, did aot give enough. If that were, so, let tho Maoris inoveto hare the Act amended. Mr Carroll spoke of tho old system of sanitation, stating that after the advent of the -whit© man, disagreements occurred and the canoe began to drift. The time had come to make a strong effort to get back to better health conditions. Let the Maoris get vheir drifting canoe, turn it round, and iace it to the torrent, and by proper attention to sanitation, impiovo their dwellings, so that their people would become as physically fit as their ancestors. Tho weakness of Maori councils to effect this improvement, bo far, might be partly due to insufficie-nt power and funds; but it had to be further said that jealousy on the part of theso who were not members bad made the work more difficult.

In tho afternoon tho Hon. Geo. Fow'lde introduced a discussion on education and the Native school system. Hβ quoted figure*; showing tho advance made by the schools sinco they had been taken over by tho Department, also regarding economic methods in "working. At the gathering this evening resolutions were passed :—''That the stipends of the Maori clergy be eubstantially increased and residences provided for them and their families," and "That the time is opportune for a forward movement for the spiritual wellbeing of the Maori race."