PROGRESS OF MAORIS

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29227, 10 June 1960, Page 17

PROGRESS OF MAORIS

“Real Advance” Seen

(A'ew Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, June 9. The fundamental needs of the Maori people were good homes, sound education, and satisfactory employment, and in all these important fields there had been a real advance during the last year, said the Minister of Maori Affairs 'Mr Nash) in his report tonight to the annual meeting of the New Zealand Labour Party. He said a record number of homes had been built for Maoris m each year the Government had held office. For the year ended in March, 1 »58, the number of houses built Was 550, and for the successive years to March, 1960, the numbers were 575 and 623. “This year I have authorised me Department of Maori Affairs to build 650 houses.’ said Mr Nash.

The Maori people are taking hhl advantage of the family benefit capitalisation scheme for building homes, and I lodk forward to an even greater increase ® the building of homes for “oori families.” . f Mr Nash said that the present "taort population, of half Maori ouxxi or more, was about 160,000 *ho by 1975 it would be 250,000 *ho by the year 2000, 500,000. By far the greater number of o® Maori population have to find in the towns. Everyis being done to integrate workers into all avenues of Thployment, in the industrial, an d professional fields. With those who still own btth-while interests tn land, I Jh hopeful that in co-operation uth the department, better use be made of these assets. I asked the Acting-Secretary la j Ori A® 3 * 1,5 to ,ook at Maori ud holdings to see whether, onsistem with preservation of i* aon ownership and the maximum degree of Maori control, a can be found of making etter use of these assets for the Benefit of the Maori people.”