More Pakehas At Maori Meeting

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31315, 10 March 1967, Page 14

More Pakehas At Maori Meeting

Sixty per cent of the people at the triannual meeting of the Otautahi Maori committee, which was held last evening, were of European descent.

Mr G. Briggs, the retiring president of the committee, critised the apathy of Maori people in Christchurch. “It is very disappointing to see that although there are about 6000 Maori people in the city, there can be more pakeha people present at a Maori meeting than the Maoris themselves.

“The apathy that exists among the Maori people in Christchurch is not encouraging to those who are trying to

help the race. We must do something as the official body for all Maori people in the city, to attract more Maoris to take an interest in their affairs.

“We have a great deal of trouble to gain recognition from organisations in the city as the official Maori body here. The City Council has , recognised us so has the De- , partment of Maori Affairs, but . there are other bodies, including many of Maori people, who do not realise what we are here for. “The finances of the committee are in a very bad state and if we do not get support from the people trying to help, then we might as well dissolve,” Mr Briggs said. “I cannot understand why people do not take greater interest in the committee. I have tried to contact many people to come along to this tri-annual meeting. Many who promised have not turned up,” said Mr K. Hopa, the new president. “We will have to find something to entice our people along to the committee, because it is a very serious thing when more than half of our executive is made up of Europeans— not that we do not greatly value tneir services.” Officers elected were:— Chairman, Mr K. Hopa; de puty chairman, Mr G. Briggs secretary-treasurer, Mr D Mackie; trustees, Messrs Mac kie, Hopa and Briggs; com mittee, Mesdames E. J. Mel huish, R. Mackie, M. Orchard Messrs F. Stout, W. Stirling and J. Wilson, auditor, Mr F Finch; publicity officer, Mi Stout.