WELFARE OF MAORIS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19891, 9 March 1928, Page 11

WELFARE OF MAORIS.

WATER SUPPLY AND ROADING

MINISTER OF HEALTH'S ADVICE

GATHERING IN THE FAR NORTH

[BST TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] HOUHORA. Thursday.

The Minister oT Health, Hon. J. A. Young, accompanied by Mr. Allen Bell, M.P., loft To Paki early yesterday morning and journeyed by car and launch to Parenga, where an hour was spent in conference with local settlers concerning matters of public interest to the district. Later the Ministerial party proceeded across the harbour to the village of le Hapua, whore the Minister met a large gathering of Maori people, who extended a warm welcome to the visitors.

The first matter put before the Minister by a number of representative natives referred to the difficulties > experienced through the recent shortage of water, which necessitated the temporary closing of the local school. They asked the Government to send a water diviner and well-sinker to To Hapua, and to erect a suitable reservoir for the benefit of the community. The Maoris promised to assist with free labour.

Mr. Young thanked the natives for their welcome, and emphasised the importance of health, which, he said, s largely depended upon themselves. The Minister said bodily cleanliness and tho practise of sanitary habits in and about their homes and villages was most essential. He also urged them to cultivate kumaras, potatoes and other vegetables for their family use. Provision Mado With Tanks. Nearly four years ago, said the Minister, the Government erected six 600-gallon tanks at the village hall for their community use, but he regretted to say they seemed to have failed to appreciate tho service. He had that day inspected the tanks, and after a splendid rain had fallen they were empty, because someone had removed and damaged a number of the taps. He would not approve of his department spending money on exploring the locality for artesian water, but he would agree to put the tanks in proper repair, provided they sank the differences among themselves and formed acommittee of representative persons, which would be responsible .for tho care and' proper use of the public property.

_ ISIr. Allen Bell then addressed the gathering in connection with the decision of the Government made about five months ago, to spend £I2OO on constructing a road from To Hapua to Waitiki, a distance of eight and a-half miles. He said the road was for the benefit of the Maoris, who had been asked to find half the labour, but Jie was sorry to say. they had not played the game, as the natives in other parts of the Mangonui County had done. 1

Mr. Tau Henare, 51.P., was associated with him ill; assisting the Maoris of the Far North. The money was not all spent, and the road was not finished. He again suggested that they should find half the labour free, as the work was for their benefit and to relieve their distress. Happiness From Working. On behalf of the Maoris, Mr. H. Norman said they would agree to find half the labour free, but, owing to the low price being paid for gum, they were poor. Also, a Judge of the Native Land Court had told them their land was no good for dairying. The Minister oi' Health said the' Government had spend £BOO on the road, and now that the natives had agreed to find £2OO worth of labour, the remaining £4OO would be spent by the Public Works Department. While he was sorry they had suffered through the collapse of the gum market, they and the country would be better off and happier if they cultivated their land.

It.- was foolish and wrong of them to cease cultivating their kumaras and other food crops because the Government had found them some employment. They must learn to depend on their own efforts for a living, otherwise thev would perish as a people. They must not be discouraged by what a Judge of • the Land Court had said.

Tiieir land would grow grass, for he. tho Minister, had seen it. They had plenty of land on which cows could he milked; certainly not as in the Waikato and laranaki, but sufficiently to encourage them to work by clearing, fencing and grassing, in a small way for a start, 'f hat was what was wanted to give them a new and better interest in life. "

Mr. Young and Mr. Bell were heartily thanked for their visit. They then departed for Tangoake, Te Kao and Houiiora. ' The Minister inspected the large developmental scheme, including the planting of grasses, being carried out by the Native Department. Houhora was reached in-the evening.