MAORI WELFARE

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22376, 13 April 1938, Page 21 (Supplement)

MAORI WELFARE

differentiation in

PENSIONS

COMMENT ON A RECENT

COMPLAINT

-REMOVAL OF « INEQUITABLE

PRACTICE ”

“In fairness to the present Government. further explanation is needed ol

the statement by Mr John Morgan, secretary of the Maori community of Christchurch, that this Government

draws a more distinct line of demarcation between Maori an pakeha in administering pension legislation than any previous Government.’* This comment on Mr Morgan’s statement, published in “The Press” on Monday, was made yesterday by Mr A. B. Witten-Hannah. Arikl-tuatahi (founderpresident) of Te Kotahitanga Leisure Society. Mr Witten-Hannah explained that the society was not 'a Maori one, but its purpose was to bring about a “oneness" of pakeha and Maori, working lor Christian brotherhood and bringing the people of both races together in the co-operative conduct of cultural activities, the study and free discussion of social and economic problems, and the carrying out of social services. The distinction between Maori and pakeha was made long before the labour Government’s assumption of office, said Mr Witten-Hannah, arid appeared to be continued only because of a mistaken impression that legistion was necessary to eliminate this distinction. “The present position, however, whereby a pakeha may receive a pension up to £4 17s 6d a month as, against a normal rate of £3 15s 10d a month lor the Maori, has no legislative sanction, but Is merely a departmental practice originating with one Magistrate, who considered that Maori* needed less -than the pakeha because of their simpler mode of living—a wrongful practice, which became general as a means of economy in other days and has hung over ihto present times. When we remember that the Treaty of Waitangi guaran-' teed to the Maori lull rights of British citizenship, we wonder why such a practice was permitted to arise, let alone persist, and every pakeha of goodwill will support action for its removal.” Halts for Guidance The practice was claimed to be justified by section 92 of the Pensions Act, said Mr Witten-Hannah, which, having regard to the difficulty of assessment of undetermined Maori Interests, provided rules for the guidance of Magistrates in ascertaining the income of a Maori applicant or the capital value of his land. Large areas of Maori land were entirely unproductive, as many classes of pakeha properly had also been in recent times, but not until 1936. when the Labour SQvemnaent was in power, was this recognised and the law amended so that the possession of interests in such unproductive property did not now deprive a genuine applicant, Maori or pakeha, of a pension. The section still affected income; but it wm not intended to be used as a means of penalising the Maori because at his race, although it was quoted in the vain attempt to Justify an inequitable, practice which could be removed at any time by sympathetic administration of the law. At present the act stated that the applicant’s income »hal] be assessed and determined by such evidence and in such manner as the Magistrate in his discretion considers proper," and the only need for new legislation would bo to prevent mm from exercising such discretion m a manner contrary to the spirit of the Treaty of Waitangi and the declared policy of the Government. ..“Pi® Minister for Pensions is in a juncult position because of the fact gat any interference by him with Magistrates, whether by way of direction or of legislative restraint, would by opponents of his party/ Mr Witten-Hannah said. “It Is reasonable to suppose that for this J?* 80 ® action has been postponed until me advent of the larger superannuation scheme." .Exception could not.be taken to •he requirement of a certificate from the Native Department before a grant was made, he said, nor did this repreaent discrimination, for in all pakeha cases full Inquiry was made of all Pctsoos with whom the applicant might have investments. Society’s Work Explained. -.“ Mr Morgan’s statement that the Maori does not know where to turn for help is true, but I am pleased to **y that this is one of the matters being remedied by Te Kotahitanga Leisure Society. Officers of the PensP? department, though bound by official rulings, are themselves sym- * j tic, but it will readily be understood that they cannot go out into the highways and by-ways seeking applicants for pensions, nor can they always Put in order applications unsupported ;0y necessary evidence. Te Kotahis«»nga, however, maintains 'personal contact with the Maori in the ordinary icourse of its general activities, and its > officers will prepare applications and ; support them before the Magistrate.” , Moat of the society’s activities were lift present centred in Taranaki, where :it has acted for some time as an uni official connecting link between the /Maoris and Government departments ijrtth which they had had dealings. In inactivity concerning the culture, 'hSWth, or economic position of the -Maori race, the society had been ready .with advice and help. Sick' Maoris visited and supplied with com■wts, and assistance was given to rjroung Maori delinquents who were “®Jped to make good. With its interin Maori symbolism and history, ■Jd its emphasis on the one-ness” of Maori and pakeha, the society had the warm approval of the Maori ciders of Taranaki, while, with Its •ooal clubs and the conduct of music and drama, arts and crafts, the Interest ot the younger Maori people had been Quickened. No grants had been sought or received from the Government, the whole of the necessary money having Men raised from time to time by the co-operative effort of the members themselves, who felt that the best way to prove the merit of .their work was doing it. Mr Witten-Hannah said that since coming to Christchurch he met man y pakeha people of goodwill, who merely neded bringing together. Very soon a local branch of *JJ e society would be opened and offljws appointed to carry out the difyijent classes of voluntary work. The . j was wide and all available friends JUid helpers of either race would be gelcomed.