MAORI INTERESTS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22434, 2 June 1936, Page 10

MAORI INTERESTS

LEGISLATIVE ANOMALIES

ELIMINATION URGED

[by telegraph—own correspondent], GISBORNE, Monday

A decision to appeal to the Prime Minister, Mr. Savage, who is also Native Minister, for elimination of legislative differentiation between Maori and European citizens was the outcome of a lengthy discussion held during a tribal conference at Tikitiki, when representatives of a number of North Island tribes were present, and expressed their conviction that a great opportunity was presented to the new Government to wipe out anomalies in Statutes under which native interests have suffered. The conference was arranged in connection with a large hui which signalised the opening of the new dining hall on the marae afc Tikitiki, and also the unveiling of three memorials. The gathering was an impressive one and Sir Apirana Ngata took part in discussions of legislative anomalies. The conference carried the following motion:; —"That the Prime Minister bp asked to convene a conference of State departmental representatives with leaders of the Maori tribes of New Zealand to review all past legislation affecting native land problems and to ascertain causes of differentiation between pakehas and Maoris, and to'see how far legislation new on the Statute Book need be amended to harmonise with present conditions."