INDIVIDUAL ADJUSTMENT PROBLEM FOR MAORIS

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31631, 18 March 1968, Page 2

INDIVIDUAL ADJUSTMENT PROBLEM FOR MAORIS

In the midst of all the economic and social development taking place in New Zealand, the Maori still had problems of individual adjustment, the Mayor of Christchurch (Sir George Manning) said on Saturday.

“Our young Maori boys and girls have lived in an environment of a country nature, not only in their own generation, but in generations before,” he said. “They now have to find their place in the economy of out cities.

“This is where I think the Maori Women’s Welfare League is doing great work, in its sympathetic approach and in its knowledge of the customs and law of the pakeha.” Sir George Manning was speaking at the opening Of the annual South Island conference of the league, held at the Kihgslea training centre at Burwood. More than 100 representatives from branches throughout the South Island, as well as representatives from the Maori Affairs Department and other kindred organisations, attended the meeting. In addition to its regular function, the league had a great responsibility in help-,

ing these young people to adjust, said Sir George Manning. “I have a sincere appreciation of what you are attempting to do in the life of the community at the present time,” he said. “If you can be of service to these young men and women from country areas it will be a wonderful thing.” Island Peoples

Mr W. Herewini, the controller of the welfare division of the Department of Maori Affairs, said that as well as helping young Maoris in New Zealand to adjust, members also had a responsibility to their relations in the Pacific Islands such as the Cook Islands, the Tokelau Islands and Niue Island.

“We have a responsibility as a department to provide welfare services for these people,” he said. “There is a growing population of Island folk who are also lonely and homesick.”

Another aspect of work which the league should concern itself with was the preservation of Maori culture, said Mr Herewini. “The only time we realise

we have something to offer is when we go overseas,” ha said. Branch Work Mr J. E. Lewin, the district officer with the Department of Maori Affairs in Christchurch, said that the small branches of the league had done marvellous work in many fields both in education and in assisting young people with Maori traditions and pakeha ways. In all theii work members had brought interest and dedication. The national president of the league (Mrs R. Sage, of Hamilton) said that by unifying themselves socially and economically, Maoris could do much more to help their own people. Mrs E. Grooby, the South Island area representative for the league, welcomed representatives from the Canterbury Maori Executive, the Te Wai Pounamu Maori District Council, the Women's Division Of Federated Farmers, the Canterbury and Canterbury East Country Women’s Institute, the Prisoner’s Aid Rehabilitation Society, and the Anglican, Methodist and *

Roman Catholic Maori Missions.

After the opening a demonstration of flax weaving was given by Miss C. Brown, an art and craft adviser with the Education Department. The photograph shows, from left, Mrs H. Whisker (president of the Taumutu branch), Mr Herewini, Mrs Sage and Mrs Grooby.