A MAORI WELCOME

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXVI, 6 January 1936, Page 5

A MAORI WELCOME

PRIME MINISTER AT ORAKEI HONOURING WAITANGI (By Telegraph—Pi ess Association) WELLINGTON, This Day. As “Captain of the great canoe known as the Labour Party,” the Prime Minister received a traditional Maori welcome when he visited the village of Orakei. It was the first time Mr Savage had visited the Maoris in his capacity as Minister of Native Affairs. Representatives of tribes in the North and South Islands and . other Maori organisations were associated in the welcome to him.

Mr Savage received from the Orakei Maoris and representatives of tribes as far south as Taranaki, an inkstand and pen on a native carved base, and Hia Hira,. paramount '.chief of the Tamaki district, handed to him a Bible brought to New Zealand by Samuel Marsden, and a copy of the -Treaty of Waitangi bound in book form.

“I promise you that the letter and spirit of the Treaty of Waitangi will be kept by the first ’ Labour Government that has the privilege of honouring its contracts with the native race,” said Mr Savage in reply. LEGISLATIVE PROGRAMME CABINET TO BEGIN FRAMING WELLINGTON, This Day. At the first meeting of Cabinet this year on Wednesday the Labour Ministry will make a start with the framing of its legislative programme for submission to the House of Representatives at the session expected to commence late in February. This will be the opening session of the present Parliament, and the first of the New Zealand Parliament with a Labour Administration as the occupants of the Treasury benches. The Prime Minister, Hon M. J. Savage, who arrived from Auckland yesterday, has already stated that several days would probably be occupied in a full discussion of the problems demanding immediate attention. Legislative proposals for the solution of these problems would be formulated as soon as possible and placed in the hands of the law draftsmen so that there ■would be no lack of business lor the attention of the House at the opening of the session. The Labour Government has as yet had little or no opportunity to consider a 3 a Cabinet proposals for implementing its policy. No sooner had Labour taken over the administration of the country’s affairs then came the Christmas and New Year holidays, and the few meetings Cabinet was able to hold before the vacation were to a large extent monopolised by matters of urgency, more particularly in regard to unemployment. Ministers have so far had little time to themselves, and the receiving of callers, meetings with departmental heads and interruptions incidental to the advent of a new Government have made heavy inroads into their working hours. Labour’s proposals for giving practical effect to its policy will be watched with interest, more particularly during the present year, for it is generally recognised that upon its efforts during that ’ period will largely depend the success or otherwise of its administration. When in Opposition Labour members made frequent complaints against the Government of the day because of delay in introducing legislation after Parliament had been called together, and it is hardly likely that the new Government will leave itself open to a similar charge by not having a programme ready for the consideration of members when they meet next month.