TOWN JOBS FOR MAORIS

Press, Volume C, Issue 29602, 26 August 1961, Page 5

TOWN JOBS FOR MAORIS

“Urban Migration Speeding Up”

One of the major problems facing the Maori people today was the fact that 120,000 lived in the country, while employment was to be found mainly in the towns, said the Minister of Maori Affaire (Mr Hanan), opening a conference of South Island young Maori leaders in Christchurch lasi evening.

“It is obvious that the Maori must move to centres of employment. The urban migration of the Maori has been speeding up for some years and will contmue tc do so, regardless of ou: attitude to it.” he said. “In their move to centres of employment, the Maor people are finding that the South Island has much tc offer. Already. Maori migration to the South Island u moving at the rate of 220 a year—-that is, one-seventh cl the total annual urban drift “Increasing numbers oi North Island Maoris will, 1 am sure, find opportunities for employment in the South Island. This will be a good thing for the Maori people as it will increase their reprepresentation in the skilled trades and similar vocations,” said Mr Hanan. “However, the measures we must take to cope with the urban migration do not mean that we shall neglect the rural Maori. Many will always live in rural areas. The fact that larger numbers will live in towns will never be used for an excuse, so far as I am concerned, for not meeting the needs of the rural Maori. Modem housing, education, and employment are just as important for them as for those in the town.”