NATIVE AFFAIRS COMMISSION.;

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXVI, 4 May 1934, Page 5

NATIVE AFFAIRS COMMISSION.;

SITTING AT WHANGAREI { HEALTH OF THE NATIVES « tV (By Telegraph-Press Association) WHANG AREI, This Day. * ~ The Native Affairs Commission commenced its sitting this moripng. * Dr Cook, Medical Officer of Health n. in the North, said the health of tlje l Natives generally was considerably * below European standards. Poverty * was one of the main causes, the l majority living in impoverished and. ” struggling circumstances. The only y remedy was to get them back on tile land. The development scheme rvoufil 7 improve the health of the Maoris. <* Conditions during the past two years had been a slight improvement. * ’ Matthew Finlay, farm director of ■the Native Department, stationed fit Wliangarei, detailed the preliminary > steps of the development scheme, say- t ing that the Native Minister took nb * part in the meetings held by various « officers. Consolidation liad to be neg- T lected when development work commeneed. The areas were not definitely 1 defined and trouble occurred through T some people considering themselves-** entitled - to land occupied by licre had been no lavish expenditure**-* and tlie. majority of the Maoris werew most careful of their expenditure. The -" success of the scheme depended on personal supervision. The number of supeuisors was inadequate.