WELFARE OF MAORIS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXX, 3 October 1936, Page 13

WELFARE OF MAORIS

NEW FEDERATION APPROVED 1 CONFERENCE AT ROTORUA j (United Press Association) ROTORUA, 2nd October. At to-day’s conference of represen- , tatives of Maori organisations in all | parts of New Zealand, the constitution ' of the newly-formed Maori and Pakeha Federation was discussed and approved. The objects of the feder- ! ation are to promote Maori social and economic well-being by every possible means, and it was stimulated that it was to be strictly a non-political and non-sectarian body. It was decided that .the headquarters of the body for the first year should be in Rotorua, the headquarters thereafter to be decided at the annual meetings. The first officers of the federation will be as follows:—President, Mr Hemana Pokiha (Rotorua); secretary, Major R. Dansey (Rotorua); treasurer, Mr D. Tatere (Dannevirke); auditor, Mr M. R. Jones (Hawera); publicity officer, Mr W. E, Bullivant (Gisborne); executive committee, Messrs Turi Carroll (Wairoa), Rev Mr Laughton (Taupo), T. Hetet (Te Kuiti), J. Asher (Tokaanu), G. Elliott (Te Kuiti), E. Edwards (Taranaki,, T. Bennett (Wanganui), and W. Bird (Murupara). The conference discussed the question of the Maori council system, and decided to recommend to the Government that it be retained, but that the powers and authority of the members of the councils be widened. The opinion was expressed that, owing to the fact that the councils had no way oi enforcing their authority or collecting finance, their prestige and mana had suffered.

Concern regarding the extent to which liquor was undermining the morals and health of the Maori race was expressed by a number of delegates during the course of a long discussion, and the matter was referred to a special sub-committee to draft an appropriate resolution for submission to the Government.

Mr Turi Carroll, Gisborne, expressed the opinion that the differentiation against the Maori under the licensing laws was making them back-door drinkers. Chinamen and negroes could obtain liquor in New Zealand where the Maori was denied.

Archdeacon R. Hodgson, Rotorua, said that strong steps should be taken to prevent the sale of the second-grade liquor which was dispensed in so many New Zealand hotels. The true remedy was not prohibition but self-control. He considered something should be done to counteract the activities of the large hotel combines, and that the Maori should be protected against bad liquor. Last night the conference discussed the question of Maori health and decided to recommend to the Government that the strength of the Native Nursing Division be increased so as to make it possible for Native nurses to give attention to a larger number of Natives. It was also decided to ask the Government to restore the Native Hygiene Department, the opinion being expressed that the action of the previous Government in abolishing this department was a retrograde step. The Government was congratulated on its decision to establish a national health insurance scheme.