DEMOLITION OF OLD MAORI HOUSES

Press, Volume LXX, Issue 21323, 16 November 1934, Page 10

DEMOLITION OF OLD MAORI HOUSES

«► BISHOP BENNETT CRITICISES HEALTH DEPARTMENT Criticism of the policy of the Health Department in compelling the North Island Maoris to demolish their primitive houses and to erect rough structures built of more modern materials, was expressed by the Bishop of Aotearoa, the Rt. Rev. F. A. Bennett, in a public lecture last evening. Bishop Bennett showed a lantern slide of a Maori village of the old type, and said that it was now possible to travel frcm end to end of New Zealand without seeing a single old-style Maori kainga. "The Maoris have a saying that those who spent their lives under the old conditions died 'with their ears between their knees'" Bishop Bennett said. "By this they mean that these people lived till they died of extreme old age, sitting at ease against the walls of their primitive houses. Yet the Health Department has said 'pull down the old houses and build yourselves tin shanties, which will be more healthy for you.' I very much doubt whether it is true that the health of the Maoris has been improved since they were forced to give up their old dwellings."