Maori Demand For Withdrawal Of Bill

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31597, 7 February 1968, Page 1

Maori Demand For Withdrawal Of Bill

(New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, February 6. A Maori demand for the withdrawal of the Maori Affairs Amendment Bill was handed today to the Deputy Prime Minister (Mr Marshall).

It was In the form of an open letter addressed to the Prime Minister (Mr Holyoake) and signed by three

Maori elders and three Maori young people.

The letter reads: “We demand the withdrawal of the Maori Affairs Amendment Bill, 1967, and that assurances be given to the Maori people that recognition and respect to the provisions and intentions of the Treaty of Waitangi be observed. “It is our belief that the haste in passing this bill was not justifiable and that the Maori Affairs Amendment Bill is damaging to New Zealanders and only serves to enhance the exploitation of this country and its people by overseas capital interests.” Mrs W. Tirikatene-Sulllvan, member of Parliament for Southern Maori, and the three Maori elders addressed a handful of people from the steps of Parliament House. Mrs Tirikatene-Sullivan urged all Maoris to investigate their land titles and, wherever necessary, to apply for succession to the Maori Land Court, and where there were several owners they should apply to consolidate into a workable unit