DEEDS OF MAORI BATTALION

Press, Volume LXXXI, Issue 24736, 29 November 1945, Page 6

DEEDS OF MAORI BATTALION

MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP FUND (P.A.) WELLINGTON, November 28. The establishment of a special memorial scholarship fund to commemorate the war service of Maoris and in particular that of the 28th (Maori) Battalion, as well as the award of the Victoria Cross to Second-Lieu-tenant Te Moana-nui-a-Kiwa Ngarimu, is provided for in a bill introduced and read a first time in the House of Representatives to-day. An explanation of the measure was given by the Minister of Education (the Hon. H. G. R..Mason), who said funds had been collected to commemorate in a practical manner the service of Maoris, and the Minister of Finance had undertaken to subsidise them £ for £ up to £25,000. s The bill provided for the adminis-. tration of the fund, said the Minister. A board was to be set up for this purpose, and would consist of the Maori members of Parliament, the Minister of Education, the Director of Education, some representative Maoris, and not more than two persons other than Maoris. The fund would be devoted to scholarships, prizes, and other help for Maori scholars.

The Leader of the Opposition (Mr S. G. Holland) asked if it was the Government's policy to subsidise similar funds. He recalled that a scholarship fund was being launched in Canterbury- to commemorate the exploits of Captain C. H. Upham, V.C. and bar. Would the same subsidy be available? The Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon. P. Fraser) said that matter would be considered. Between £I6OO and £IBOO had been collected for the Maori scholarship fund, and he was quite sure the Government would give sympathetic consideration to any scheme that would honour our V.C. winners.