NATIVE WELFARE

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXV, Issue 257, 28 September 1945, Page 6

NATIVE WELFARE

| HELPING THE MAORI. (Press Assn.) WELLINGTON, Sept 2? Continuing the discussion on the vote for the Native Department in the House of Representatives today, Mi C. G. Harker (Nat., Waipawa) said he was glad to see there was developing some more real appreciation of the desperate nature of the native housing situation. Unless we faced this prob lem and cured it we would spend in our hospitals, particularly on tubercuI losis cases, far more money than an I adequate housing programme would cost. • . I Mr L. G. Lowry (Lab., Otaki) pointed out that at Kaikohe and Rotorua there were already two trade I training schools solely for Maori sei--1 vicemen, while half of another at Gis- ! borne was for Maoris. Moreover, Maoris could attend other trade j training schools throughout the Doi minion. A number* of Maoris had alj ready passed through these training schools and were now engaged in | building houses, not only for Maoris but for pakehas. Some of them were also engaged on State housing. Mr E. T. Tirikatene (Southern Maori) supported members who had said that not all Maoris desired to bej come farmers. He said increasing num- , bers of Maoris were training for the ; professions, inclueling a Maori woman doctor, who would qualify this year. It was only right that Maoris should use their talents to the best advantage. The vote was passed, also a vote of £29,87b foi tho Native, Trustees Account and the House was considering the vote of £289,390 for the Department of Justice and Prisons when the adjournment was taken at 1 o'clock.