MAORI DWELLINGS

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 300, 15 September 1936, Page 11

MAORI DWELLINGS

Uniform Type For Rotorua Villages MINISTER APPROVES IDEA By Telegraph—Press Association. Rotorua, September 14. A suggestion that steps should be taken to adopt a uniform type of Maori dwelling in the Maori villages at Ohinemutu and Whakarewarewa was made by the Mayor of Rotorua, Mr. T. Jackson, In the course of a deputation by the Rotorua Borough Council to the Minister of Internal Affairs, Hon. W. E. Parry, to-day. Mr. Jackson pointed out that at present the provisions of the Town Planning Act could not be applied either to Crown land or Native land, and that, therefore, the hands of the council in devising a suitable town-planning scheme for the borough of Rotorua were tied. He suggested that amendments should be made to the Act empowering the council to ensure that only suitable types of dwellings were erected in the two Native villages included within the boundaries of the borough. The Minister said that he thoroughly, approved of the idea. The Native Minister, Rt. Hon. M. J Savage, and the Government were particularly anxious to preserve the Native atmosphere, and he could therefore assure the council that everything possible would be done to carry out its suggestions. He considered that the Natives themselves should design a suitable type of Maori house incorporating Maori design, and that every effort should be used to remodel the villages on lines which would preserve the Maori crafts and culture. He promised, that as chairman of the Town Planning Board he would place the suggestions before the-board on his return to Wellington and have a report upon the matter prepared and submitted to the Government.