MAORI RACE

Evening Post, Volume CXXIV, Issue 69, 18 September 1937, Page 15

MAORI RACE

BETTER CONDITIONS

IMPROVING LAND

Praise for the way in which the Government had helped the Maori raca by improving the economic position, and by helping the Maoris to develop their land, was expressed in the Legislative Council yesterday by the Hon. R. Mawhete. He paid a tribute to the Minister of Health (the Hon. P. Fraser) for what had been done to improve the health of the Maoris, and urged further activity in health and educational training.

Mr. Mawhete said that as the representative of the Maori race in the Council he was glad of the opportunity to express the loyalty of the Maoris to the King and Queen. He had been interested to hear the references to the Maori race in the Gover-nor-General's Speech. The conditions of the Maoris had been improved, and money had been set aside for housing for them. There was also much being done to improve the health of the Maoris, but more would have to be done, because, while the Maori birthrate was increasing, the mortality rate was far too high. The Government had done good work in re-establishing Maoris on their land. Much Native land had become overrun with weeds and the Government was helping the Maoris to bring that land into use again. The Maoris wanted to occupy their own land and it was in their interests and the interest of the country to enable them to do so. The Maoris were better out of the towns, and if they were occupied on their land they were removed from the labour market. Mr. Mawhete said that Maori should be made a matriculation subject for Maori students because many Maori students could not speak their own language. He also suggested training in nursing for Maori girls after they had completed their secondary schooling. Many of these girls were anxious to learn nursing, he said, and if training could be provided they would help to raise the standard of health [of the Maori race.