MAORI AFFAIRS

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22337, 26 February 1938, Page 13

MAORI AFFAIRS

TO TUB EDITOR OF THE I'BEpS,

Sir,—The address given by Mr John Houston, of Hawera, before the Rotary Club Conference here in Christchurch is straight and to the point. I would commend those who have not read the address as reported, to make good their omission. Mr Houston has called attention to' the need lor an understanding on Maori problems, I hope with all my heart his words will bear good fruit. The majority of those (only a few), who have some little interest in Maori affairs seem only concerned with the North Island Maoris. At the risk perhaps of- being called a "provincialist." I say that much requires attention close at hand. I have been a regular visitor to Tuahiwi. where I have as elsewhere sincere Maori friends. Though I may be loath at times to praise the Government, keeping'■work open for our Maori brethren lias at least borne good fruit at Tuahiwi. The pa there has been considerably improved and cleaned up by subsidised Maori labour. I particularly noticed on Sunday that the cemetery had been trimmed up, the hedges cut, and the footpaths improved, I hear that the local authority contemplates abandoning further work on the Maori settlement. Yes, let everything go wild again, and Maori manhood be placed on sustenance! We as pakehas, talk glibly of how we treat the Maoris as equals. Dp we? The single Maori worker receives 6s 8d in cash and the rest of his earnings he receives by way of food orders. The charge may be made that the Maori spends what little ho receives in the purchase of licmor. The "waipiro" again is a "gift" of the pakeha There is an eld adage that "Satan finds work for idle hands to do." and it holds good whether our skins are brown or white. Give the Maori work to do and encourage him socially; he vvijl respond.—Yours, etc.. WIREMU TEIRA. February 24, 1938.