MR HOLLAND’S TOUR

Press, Volume LXXXII, Issue 25021, 1 November 1946, Page 8

MR HOLLAND’S TOUR

ADDRESS TO MAORIS AT PUTIKI PA

NATIONAL PARTY’S PLANS EXPLAINED

(P.A.) WANGANUI, Oct. 31.. Pledges that the National Party, if it became the Government, would not interfere in any way with the benefits enjoyed by the Maori people under the Social Security Act were given by the Leader of the Opposition (Mr S. G. Holland) when he addressed a gathering of Maoris at Putiki Pa today. Mr Holland said the party’s aim was to reduce the need for some forms of social security by the elimination of the causes, such as sickness and unemployment, w’hich made the benefits necessary. The meeting was presided over by Mr Alex Takarangi, a former Maori All Black, and Mr H. Marumaru, the candidate for Western Maori, was present. After paying a tribute to the Maori Battalion, Mr Holland said that whatever government was in power it must do something for the welfare of the Maori people. “The National Party has no desire to absorb the Maori race into pakeha customs and culture,” said Mr Holland. ‘‘We want them to retain their own culture. We recognise the right of the Maori to equal participation in all benefits and advantages that are available to the pakeha. We want to make facilities available for the training of leaders for the Maori people in education, health and agriculture. “It has been falsely stated, for political purposes, that the National Party will reduce the benefits of the Maori people under the Social Security Act,” said Mr Holland. “I give an emphatic denial to that. We will maintain all the social security benefits now enjoyed by the Maori race. What we do seek to achieve is to reduce the need for social security wherever we can. Good health is better than a sickness benefit, and regular work is preferable to an unemployment benefit.” Sickness Among Maoris One matter that would be taken up was the under-nourishment of Maori children. These now numbered eight in every 100, compared with one in every 100 ome years ago. Other surveys had shown that 46 per cent of Maori children were suffering from some form of sickness, and that 24 out of every 1000' Maoris suffered from tuberculosis. If it became the Government the National Party would concentrate on these problems, and would aim to apply mass radiography to all children, so that weaknesses that might later cause several occupational illnesses would be disclosed, and treated early in life. The National Party had plans to expand Maori agriculture, and with this the training of craftsmen and tradesmen. Ownership of their own homes would also be encouraged among the Maori people. “We want to preserve the Maori language,” Mr Holland added. “We want more Maori announcers in our broadcasting system, so that people can appreciate the richness of English so spoken. We want also more news broadcasts and other programmes in Maori.”

Representatives of the Whiti-Tama, Ngatiapa, Parewahawaha, WainuiaruaWhanganui and Hauiti tribes expressed thanks to Mr Holland for his address, and confidence in the National Party. Mr Holland later spoke in the Opera House in Wanganui, which was crowded. His address was on the same lines as in other centres.