MAORI HOUSES.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVI, Issue 246, 15 September 1936, Page 12

MAORI HOUSES.

UNIFORMITY AT ROTORUA. Per Press Association. ROTORUA, Sept. 14. A suggestion that steps should be taken to adopt a uniform type of Maori dwelling in the Maori villages at Ohinemutu and Wliakarewarewa was made by the Mayor of llotorua (Mr T. Jackson) in the course of a deputation hv the Rotorua Borough Council to the Minister of Internal Affairs (Hon. AY. E. Parry), to-day. Mr Jackson pointed out that at present the provisions of the Town Planning Act could not be applied either to Crown land or Native mild, and that, therefore, the hands of the council in devising a suitable townplanning scheme for the borough of Rotorua were tied. He suggested that amendments should be made to the Act empowering the council to ensure that only suitable types of dwellings were erected in the two Native villages included within the boundaries of the borough. The Minister said that he thoroughly approved of the idea. The Native Minister (Rt. Hon. M. J. Savage) and the Government were particularly anxious to preserve the Native atmosphere, and he could, therefore, assure the council that everything possible would be done to carry out its suggestions. He considered that the Natives themselves should design a suitsible type of Maori house incorporating Maori design, and that every effort should be used to remodel the villages on lines which would preservo the Maori crafts and culture. He promised that as chairman of the Town Planning Board he would place the suggestions before the board on his return to AA r ellington and have a report upon the matter prepared and submitted to the Government.