Political Notes

Northern Advocate, 15 March 1944, Page 5

Political Notes

The only son. of Mr and Mrs Stan. Weston, of Whangarei, Lieutenant E. S. Weston has been wounded in action in Italy. Advice received by his parents is that his wounds fortunately are not of a serious character. Aged 23 he - was born at Whangarei and educated at the Whangarei Primary School and Whangarei High School. Upon completing his education he entered the firm of Weston Bros- as a salesman. Following in the footsteps of his father and uncle he showed great promise as a footballer, playing for the Old Boys’ Club and representing the Northern Military District as a five-eighths and three-quarter. He was also a good club cricketer. At the age of 18 he entered the army and was stationed on Fort duty, becoming an n.c.o. and later gaining bis commission. In order to serve overseas he relinquished his officer’s rank and Went overseas as a gunner, but a cable dated March 4 received by his parents intimates that he has won his commission in the field. He adds that he is fit and well.

(Special)" WELLINGTON, This Day. A plea lor greater consideration for the Maori race was made by Mr A. J. Murdoch (Oppn.-Marsden), speaking in the Address-in-Reply debate in the House of representatives. Mr Murdoch said he had been long associated with the native people in the North, and he remembered the old time natives, fine, upright men, thoroughly honest, and keen to look after themselves, and to do the best they could to associate with the pakelia. The country still had a fine race in the native people, but it was the duty of the elder natives, he said, to look after the young natives. He was satisfied that the time had arrived when we should take careful stock of the native Deonle, and he suggested that the Minister should set up a committee or council to go into the whole position and to collaborate with some of the Europeans of the North. Take Time by Forelock Mr Murdoch said he was an honorary member of the Maori Council at Whangarei. He was associated with another honorary member, and they endeavoured to assist in any way they could. But time must be taken by the forelock and a start made now to try and get back' to the land the many natives who were drifting into Ihe cities. _ Mr Murdoch said the present Government was just as far ahead with native affairs, with the amount of land given back by the? Government or paid for by the Government, as was the case when he was in office. For instance, the Ngaitahu claim had not yet been settled, and such moneys as were provided for the native peoples then were transferred at the instigation of tire Member for Eastern Maori district, to the Western Maori district. Prepared to Help Mr Murdoch said he was quite prepared to help in any way he could. He hoped the time was not far distant when advantage could he taken of the efforts of school teachers and of the results in the schools. At present, there was training, the pupils were taken a certain distance, and then they were dropped. That, should not be, and we should endeavour to train native girls as nurses to go out among the country people. . He had been told by a Maori friend that that could not be done because there was not sufficient money allowed to enable the training of Maori girls as nurses. The Maoris said they did not like being alongside their white sisters because they could not keep up the same appearance. If sufficient money were not there for the purpose, it must he made available. That was one way in which Parliament could help to make the homes better and 1o cultivate the art of maintaining health, and unless an early start were made, efforts were likely to he more or less unsuccessful.