MAORI SOLDIERS

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 125, 22 February 1944, Page 6

MAORI SOLDIERS

Special Rehabilitation Arrangements HOUSING ACCOMMODATION “While men of the 28th Battalion have, of course, been able to participate equally with other members of the bcconu N.Z.E.F. in the benefits of the reltabilration scheme, it has been realized that there are certain problems in connexion with their rehabilitation that require special treatment." said the Minister ot K - hahilitntion, Major Skinner, last evening. A start had been made, he added, in providing temporary housing accommodation for Maori ex-servicemen. Housing materials had been obtained on the east eoast of the North Island from army huts that were no longer requited tor defence purposes, and cottages were being ere (J tsu in that district. It was noped that cottages would be built throughout the country and relieve to a great extent the acute shortage of houses. The Minister said that in order to meet rhe special needs of Maori ex-servicemen, it had been decided to set up special administrative machinery. Maori ex-ser vicemen were of course at liberty it they so desired to use the normal rehabilitation channels, and they would naturally be given every possible assistance and consideration by the district rehabilitation officers. If they wished to apply for financial assistance 1 to acquir” farms and businesses they would, if approved for these purposes by the loca rehabilitation committee (with a co-opted Maori representative), go through the State Advances Corporation and tue Rehabilitation Board. Likewise, applications for State rental houses would be dealt with by the State Advances Corporation and the local rehabilitation committee, again assisted by a co-opted Maori representative. In employment" trade training and education matters the procedure would be the same as that" employed in the case of European ex-service-men except that the assistance of Maot’ tribal representatives would be availed of. Altern Live Procedure. Maori servicemen, however, might,prefer to use the alternative procedure that had been devised in co-operation with Maori tribal executive committees an> ! the Native Department. Application by means of this procedure was especial.? suitable for those ex-servicemen who wished to receive farm training with a view to settlement on existing tribal lands or on lands acquired for Maori exservicemen by a special national organ ization known as the Maori Rehabilitation Finance Committee. The farm training and trade training selection procedures were adapted to enable application through the Maori tribal executives anu the Native Department where this wat desired by the ex-servicemen in the eas'of financial assistance to acquire farm? or businesses which they wished to procure through the native channels. Applications were first considered by the tribal executive committee, investigated by the Native Department and finally considered by the Maori Rehabilitation Finance Committee, which sift in Wellington, and on which the Rehabilitation Board ant) the Board of Native Affairs had representation.

“Six Maori rehabilitation officers have already been appointed, who will work through the appropriate district rehabilitation officers, and more will be appointed if necessary,” said the Minister. Tc is hoped that this procedure will be o; real help to men of the 28th Battalion. I should like to emphasize the importance of the contribution that Maori tribal executive committees, in eo-opera-tion with the Native Department amt the Maori rehabilitation officers, can make in helping the Government in the rehabilitation of Maori ex-servicemen.”