Answers Criticism Of Maori People

Northern Advocate, 15 March 1944, Page 4

Answers Criticism Of Maori People

(P.A.) WELLINGTON, This Day. The Hon. E. T. Tuikutene (Gov.-S. Maori) devoted most of his speech in the House of Representative's to answering what he termed blanket criticisms made by the Opposition of the Mac ri peoplecriticisms which had brought him telegrams and telephone calls of protest horn various parts of the country. He was prepared to accept a fair thing. He admitted that some Maoris had fallen by the wayside, but this did not justify blanket criticisms of people whose valour and integrity in the war effort had been acclaimed by the world. The record of the Maori Battalion and the 10.000 Maoris who had enlisted for service, including the navy and air force, did not bear out the statement, of an Opposition member that Maoris did not appreciate good treatment. Mr. Tirikatene said Uial while there was no dcubt that there were some Maoris in the towns who could be rehabilitated on land as the Opposition suggested, it must be remembered that Maoris wanted th& same rights as pakehas to prove their ability in medicine, teaching and other professions. Mr. Tirikatene said that one Maori tribe had given parcels of land totalling 100.250 acres to the Government in free status during the last and present war for the rehabilitation of Maori servicemen.