EXPENSES OF MAORIS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIV, Issue 288, 2 November 1934, Page 14

EXPENSES OF MAORIS.

POINTS IN COMMISSION’S REPORT One of the remarkable items of expenditure out of the Maori Purposes Fund, as disclosed in the report of the Native Affairs Commission, is the sum of £IO7O 18s 6d for expenses incurred m connection with the Maori football match in Wellington against the British Rugby team in July, 1930. More than half of the Natives who attended the match came from the Fast Coast Commenting on the expenditure, the Commissioners say: “The expenses were incurred pusuant to the resolution passed on March 24, 1930, by the Control Board, at which were present Sir Apirana Ngata (chairman), Air Tuiti Malcitanara, M.P., and To Rangihiroa (Dr Buck). From the Maori point of view, the occasion was, no doubt, one of great importance. The Prince of Wales had presented a trophy for competition among Maori footballers, and certain people came to Wellington to do honour to the visiting British team.” Other items enumerated by the Commission are these:

Expenses in connection with Mr and Mrs Bine Taiapa, of Ruatoria, attending Maori Arts and Crafts Board’s School at Rotorua, £147 12s. Expenses incurred in connection with East Coast meeting-houses at Waiomatatini, Tokornaru Bay, and Gisborne, £4,745, 11s sd. Travelling expenses of Maoris and Europeans visiting development schemes (incurred principally by Natives and Europeans of East Coast), £785 7s 9d.

Wages of Te Ante College boys cutting thistles at Waiomatatini during school vacation, £7l. Passage money, Charles Goldsmith, Wellington-ltarotonga return, £3O 17s 3d. Earthquake relief, East Coast Natives, £1863 Is 3d. Travelling expenses of Mrs Tai Mitchell, Hoani te Heuheu, Hoeroa Marumaru, Wiremu Potae, and ltenata Tamepo, £214 19s 9d. Waitangi celebrations £484 11s Bd. Amount granted to defray the cost of experiments made in connection with the Eangitoto-Tuhua 36a 2c 2b, and other blocks. £2OO, (Note.—This amount was paid to the WaikatoManiapoto District Maori Land Board and was credited to the account of Henry Davey.) With regard to the visits to the development schemes, the Commissioners; observe that “the Native Minister ad-; mits that most of the £785 was expended on Natives and Europeans of the East Coast. The Native Minister states that the visits were for the purpose of breaking down opposition to the Native land development schemes. Women and children were in the party. They went for the purpose of joining in songs and dance.”