MAORI WELFARE

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXVI, Issue 283, 13 November 1936, Page 6

MAORI WELFARE

Rest-House and Hostel in Hastings MAYOR’S SUGGESTION “That this convention feels that there is need fcr more accommodation being provided in the town during the shopping hours, for the Maori people, especially the women and children, and urges the council and others interested to take steps to provide such.” This was the resolution placed before the Fastings Borough Council last evening by the' Hawke’s Bay district branch of the W.C.T.U. In support it was stated that on Saturdays there was no adequate provision for the large number of Maoris, particularly women and children.

The unioir also contended that adequate accommodation was not provided On the trains travelling into Hastings on Saturday mornings, many passcu* gers having to stand all the way Irom as tar south as Waipawa. The Mayor,' Mr G. A. Maddison, said that just before the receipt of this letter he had conferred with Mr P. H. Tomoana, as representative of the Maori people, on the question of a rest-house for the Maoris. A meet-ing-place and rest-rooms were urgently required, and it had been suggested that such a place might well be the centre of’ Maori arts and crafts. It was significant, he said, that there had been a recommendation at Hamilton for a hostel there for the Maoris, but the position was somewhat different in that Hamilton was the headquarters of the base hospital and the Maoris came in big numbers io visit their sick friends. In New Plymouth, also, there was to be an investigation made into the possibilities of establishing a hostel. “I realise that a similar scheme here would be greatly appreciated by our Maori friends,” said Mr Maddison, “and I would be prepared for this council to investigate the matter.” He said that there had to be taken into consideration not only the capital cost but also the maintenance of such a building. The council would not be in a position to incur any additional expense this year, but provision could be made in next year’s estimates. He was of the opinion, however, that the council should collaborate with the native people, and pointed out that there were a number of very wealthy Maoris who no doubt would be prepared to subscribe very substantially to such a proposal. On the Mayor’s suggestion it was decided to defer the matter for consideration to some future date and that in the meantime an investigation should be made and a report furnished to the council.

Regarding the complaint as affecting the railways. Mr Maddison said that he had referred this to the stationmaster, who had intimated that he would make inquiries into it.