Maori Councils Consider Planned Unifying Laws

Press, Volume C, Issue 29536, 10 June 1961, Page 9

Maori Councils Consider Planned Unifying Laws

(New Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON, June 9. Delegates to Maori district councils gathered in Wellington tonight to consider the draft of the Government’s proposed legislation to set up a Dominion Maori Council. The Minister of Maori Affairs (Mr Hanan) wild address the gathering tomorrow afternoon. He will be accompanied by the Secretary of Maori Affairs (Mr J. K Hunn). Hie aim of the legislation is to secure a unified voice of the Maori people. In addition. statutory authority will be given to the district councils if the draft is approved in its present form. It is thought in Government circles that the 455 tribal committees and 85 tribal executives have at the moment limited opportunities for presenting a unified opinion on Maori affairs. The draft bill provides that any five or more tribal executives at a meeting at which all are represented can decide that a district council be formed.

There would be only one district council for each Maori land district and each

district council would consist of two representatives from each tribal executive in the district The Government wants the district councils and the Donfinion council to be extensions of the tribal committees anti executives. No departmental officers will be appointed to district councils or the Dominion council. The supporters of the draft bill claim that the system of representation would enable the Maori people for the first time for many years to present to the Government views which were those of the Maori people as a whole Mr Rei Vercoe, of Rotorua, who presided said that their main purpose in meeting was to create something that would make it easier for the Minister of Maori Affairs to consult the Maori people. The delegates would continue to hold their positions temporarily until th; next step was decided. After the customary exchange of greetings between delegates, the meeting went into committee to discuss the provisions of the draft legislation.