RENOVATION OF PA

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21921, 3 October 1934, Page 16

RENOVATION OF PA

MAORIS SEEK AID MINISTER SUGGESTS SELF-HELP Members of the Maori race from all parts of the Wairarapa district welcomed to Papawai Pa the other day a Ministerial party consisting of Sir Apirana Ngata, -Minister of Native Affairs. Lady Ngata, Miss Ngata and Mr. Taite te Toino, M.P. Several native affairs questions were discussed in the marao. Mr. Hector Manihera submitted a request that Sir Apirana Ngata should do all within his power to secure for the natives of Papawai assistance to enable the renovation of the pa buildings and the carrying out of improvements to the surroundings. Sir Apirana Ngata, speaking on the question of renovating the buildings, said tho natives should begin by helping themselves, and not by approaching tho Government for assistance. If they were to do that, then Mr. te Tomo and himself would bo pleased to make recommendations to tho Maori Purposes Board. Not until tho Maori people exerted themselves to the utmost, however, need they go to the Government for a subsidy. "1 am not asking you to take a hat round among our pakeha friends either," he added. In reply to a question about the possibility of rebuilding the Hikorangi Maori College, which was destroyed by firo about two years ago, Sir Apirana said he did not believe in having too manv institutions in all parts of the Dominion, with none of them getting very far owing to insufficient funds. He' considered Hikorangi College one of those.