MAORI WELFARE

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22431, 18 June 1938, Page 20

MAORI WELFARE

TO TBB CDITOB OF IBS VUtM. Sir,—ln your issue of June 15 your correspondent, Wiremu Teira, made special references to the necessity for a South Island Parliamentary representative who would uphold principles rather than be made a political tool. It seems necessary to mention here that Wiremu Teira is a pakeha who is a Maori historian of exceptional ability. His consistency in drawing public attention to treatment issued out to the Maori 3 in various ways, in the past and at the present time, is most welcome and appreciated besides being an inspiration to those who have the welfare of the Maori community at heart. ■ Indeed, our thanks are due lo this wonderful man for his noble and humanitarian services. I feel ashamed to admit that we have a representative showing a decided weakness, as pointed out by your correspondent, more particularly in connexion with the Petroleum Oil Royalty Act. When this bill was brought down by the Minister responsible, the Hon. P. C. Webb, in its initial stages, Sir Apirana Ngata made his usual eloquent* appeal to both sides" ofi the House, pointing out that, according to the Treaty of Waitangi, the Maori tttle does not appear on the surface only, but goes down to the depths of the earth, and if this compact is to be observed, a full measure of royalty must be paid to those 'to whom the land belongs. On the other hand, if the bill were allowed to go to the Statute Book in its then form It could only mean a breach of faith and a violation of the treaty and its sacred clauses. Mr. E. T. Tirikatene, M.P., the South Island representative, on that occasion followed suit on similar lines to Sir Apirana Ngata, and those who had the privilege of listening in to the .defence put up by these two Maori members can vouch that it was the finest bit of defence and oratory that was ever put across the floor of the House and over the air.

In the final stages of this bill, on its way to the Statute Book, everyone knows what happened. It is, however worth while recording once more, that at the final division Mr E. T. Tirikatene and T. H. Ratana voted in favour of the bill, strange to say, against their own convictions.

The Rt. Hon. J. O. Coates’s interpretation of the situation during that heated debate was that Mr Tirikatene was attempting to face both ways, I, would not, at this moment, venture; to give the version of the man in the street, but merely leave it to the elec-' tors to decide for themselves.

The most surprising feature is that while Mr. E. T. Tirikatene is wrapped up with an 80-year-old promise (the Ngaitahu claim of £354,000) he is now prepared to accept the assurance of the Hon. P. C. Webb that if oil is found on Native lands, justice would be done. Not that I doubt the Minister for one moment; but it is just as well, for what it is worth, to mention that these legitimate claims have been accorded valuable promises from successive governments up to the present, and as far as the South Island is concerned, they have gone grey with the passing of the sands of time. It may be argued that all these claims are legacies of previous governments, but there is nc reason or justification why another one should be added to a host of unfulfilled promises. The attitude of the Labour Government towards the social and economic welfare of the Maori race can be judged by the enormous advance made in various ways in the North Island, more particularly with regard to the native land development scheme under the directorship of Sir Apirana Ngata. Approximately 800,000 acres are now under cultivation of some sort, doubling the area since the Labour Government came into power; and from available reports these Maori farmers are holding their own with the best of them. - ... - ■

If the South Island is lacking in this respect or other social services, the blame must rest with Its own*representative, certainly not the Government. which is willing to .do all it can irrespective of whaf political view one takes.

In conclusion, may I; emphasise ths fact that the dawn of a new era has certainly arrived, and an opportunity has offered itself-to be taken advantage of for the first time in the political history of our Maori world.—Yours etc., ' ■ J. MORGAN. ' Secretary, Maori Community of Christchurch. ’ June 17, 1038.