THE ARAWA TRUST BOARD

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21250, 2 August 1932, Page 13

THE ARAWA TRUST BOARD

Sir, —May I ask space to ventilate a matter of • the greatest importance to a portion of the Maori race. Some time ngo the Arawa Trust Board was good enough to make a considerable concession to the Government out, of the £6OOO per annum which is paid to it in connection with the Rotorua lakes. I think it would have boon a wiser plan to have used this money toward improving the habitations of the natives in and around I'otorua. In fact, it would be wiser to spend the whole £6OOO in the improvement of the condition of the natives, instead of spending the money in purchasing farm properties from which the natives derive no immediate benefit; Indeed, it is questionable whether the natives will ever derive any benefit at all from tlio expenditure of the moneys on these farm properties. Many of the natives are on relief works, and it would seem to me to be a better proposition to spend some of the annual £6OOO to provide work for the unemployed Maoris instead of spending the money in other directions. 1 am of opinion that it would be an improvement i! the present board were abolished, and a smaller board, consisting of -pattellas, set up to take its place. A pakeha board would be more keen to see that the money was well spent, and assistance given to those Maoris in urgent need of relief. T. A. McKinnon. ' Ngongotaha.