NATIVE AFFAIRS

Hokitika Guardian, 16 June 1938, Page 2

NATIVE AFFAIRS

HELP OF PRIME .MINISTER SOUGHT. (Per Press Association—Copyright). WANGANUI. .Tune 15. Addressing tile Prime .Minister (the Rt. Hon. Af. J. Savage at the Ratana settlement to-day, Afr T. W. Ratana said that matters of importance lie wished to bring Indore Air Savage were Maori land grievances and the need for enforcing the Treaty i.f Waifangi.

He said that a sort, of riact had been made with Mr IT. Holland, when he was Leader of the Opposition, that in the

event of Labour over getting the Treasury benches if would do its best for the ALtori people. A commission had been set up and had gone into the land grievance question, and the decision of the commission was awaited with interest.

Air Ratana drew attenfion to the smallness of the assembly ball far su<‘h a large gathering. Speaking for 40,000 followers of the Ratana movement, lie asked the Prime Minister to set a time to come to the pa to discuss the improvement of the accommodation.

“Your land grievances will be nut rigid as rapidly as it is humanly possible.” said Air Savage in reply. “You must realise that, even governments are limited in what they can do in a certain time. We cannot do everything at once

r }!s fast, as we would like. We have lherited the sins of generations of govrnineiits that, have passed away. 1 ant. you to regard me as a trieiid oi be native race, to remember that T will Iways be glad to do what is humanly

'possible for you. 1 want Mr Ratana, sen., to know that I have not forgotten his mission to my room in Wellington, ' and I would have him know that I am a- man of m.v word and that I will live up to every promise f have made.” ! Mr Savage was greeted with p role aged applause.