Dr Paewai Praises N.Z. Racial Harmony

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30213, 19 August 1963, Page 13

Dr Paewai Praises N.Z. Racial Harmony

(New Zealand Press Association) AUCKLAND, August 18. “Maoris and Europeans in New Zealand get on better together than any other two races in the world,” Dr. M. N. Paewai said at the opening of the conference of the Federation of Maori Students in Auckland on Saturday.

The relations between the two peoples would become even closer. Dr. Paewai said when the Maoris cvercame their problems and had greater responsibility in the community ‘ Europeans and Maoris are bo h waking uo to rhe fact that there is logic in the saying that you have to be cruel to be kind," sai d Dr. Paewai “All of us are beginning to realise that the breadwinners of some families, both European and Maori, need to be told fairly and squarely where their responsibilities lie " Dr Paewai referred to the success of the family budge! scheme which has been operating m Kaikohe for nearly three years The scheme had shown Maoris how to get value from their money and how to keep out of debt. Ever, more important than this, said Dr Paewai. it had b-ought the Maoris closer to Europeans in the town and had shown them that both races had the same pr blems The cha-ng s in the relations of the people in Kaikohe had btrm greater in the time the budget scheme had been operating than in the rest of the 18 years he had been practicing medicine in the town Macri families with money difficulties were overcoming

their indebtedness and could hold their heads high when walking down the street. Maoris were making progress. but there could be no pride in the number of Maoris in mental institutions, the Maori infant mortality rate and the numbers of young Maoris who were leaving school far too early The conference tonight heard a discussion on the problems facing the Maori electorate, by Mr M Rata. Labour member of Parliament for Northern Maori, Mr J Henare. National Party candidate for Northern Maori, and Mr D Rivers, a member of the Social Credit League One of the greatest difficulties facing Maori candidates, the panel members said was the question of divided loyalties. All agreed that the welfare of the Maori people must come before obligations to party The panel did not think the big decline in the numbers of Maoris who vo’ed at the last election could be interpreted as a protest against the exclusion of Maoris from the All Black team to South Africa Mr Rata said that in his by-election campaign, the question of the All Blacks was raised once —by a prominent footbailller in the far north.