The Northern Advocate Daily “NORTHLAND FIRST” TUESDAY, OCTOBER 11, 1938. Maoris and Unemployment

Northern Advocate, 11 October 1938, Page 6

The Northern Advocate Daily “NORTHLAND FIRST”

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 11, 1938. Maoris and Unemployment

Registered for transmission through the post as a Newspaper

ALL w.’.o have the welfare of the Maoris of Northland at heart must have found much to interest them in the comments on the Native unemployment situation, made in our issue yesterday by Sir Apirana Ngata, whose conclusion is that the avenues of employment available to Maoris have been considerably restricted under the present Government. The Maori unemployed, he considers, are being forced to accept work of a casual nature on the roads rafter than encouraged to participate in the development of Native land, where surplus man power may be very profitably employed. It was Sir Apirana Ngata who inaugurated and zealously fostered the various Native farm schemes which, in different parts of New Zealand, but particularly on the East Coast north of Gisborne, have transformed the outlook of many Maoris. On the East Coast, huge areas of Native land previously lay idle, but the Maori farmers have now brought much of it into effective _ production, and their methods won the admiration of Lord Bledisloe, who knew good farming when he saw it. Considering the success that attended these operations under the previous Government, their extension to other parts might have been expected, and it is well known that there are many areas in Northland where farm schemes, properly assisted, would not only benefit the Maoris, but the district as a whole.

It would appear from Sir Apirana Ngata’s observations, however, that the allowance for assisting with the farm schemes is so limited that the Maoris engaged in them, cannot earn enough to keep themselves and their families. As a result, they drift into casual work and more often than not fall victims to that shiftlessness which is the first enemy to be conquered if indigent Maoris are to become useful members of the community. Whatever the outcome of the elections, it is to be hoped that early attention will be given to the weaknesses noted in the present policy by Sir Apirana, for he is one of the few men qualified to speak with absolute authority on this subject, having devoted his whole life, and sacrificed a brilliant legal career to the welfare of his people.