NATIVE RACES IN NEW ORDER

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 23891, 9 March 1943, Page 5

NATIVE RACES IN NEW ORDER

QUESTIONS BY SIR APIRANA NGATA (P.A.) WELLINGTON, March 8. A large part of the world's population comprised native races, said the Hon. Sir Apirana Ngata Maori), in the Address-in-Reply debate in the House of Representatives tonight. He asked what place these coloured races were going to have in the operation of the principles of the Atlantic Charter and the new Christian order. There had been some sort of smug complacency in some of the addresses given from the churches, and he would like to know what was going to be done in the new Christian order for Mohammedans, Buddhists. Brahmins, and followers of Confucius. A lot of Maoris were wondering if their race was to share in the new Christian order. Sir Apirana Ngata also stated that lack of co-ordination seemed to exist between the National Patriotic Fund Board and the Provincial Patriotic Councils. With regard to the Rehabilitation Boards' policy, he contended that executives should be appointed whom the Maoris should be able to approach to ascertain what was being done about houses and land for Maori soldiers. He urged the appointment of a Native Minister to deal with these subjects, and said that the Maoris wanted not only equality in law but equality of opportunity. He also advocated the settlement of old native land claims, the Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon. P. Fraser) interposing to say that in this respect some lead from the Maoris themselves would be helpful.