MAORI PROBLEM

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23044, 23 May 1938, Page 8

MAORI PROBLEM

WASTING OF MONEY LIQUOR AND CARS HOSPITAL BOARD'S FEARS MEMBER SUGGESTS CAMPS [BY TELEGRAPH —OWN CORRESPONDENT] HASTINGS, Sunday "Liquor, motor-cars and picture shows are taking all the money of the Maoris, and they are depending on the board for necessities," said Mr. A. B. Williams at a meeting of the Waiapu Hospital Board yesterday. He added that unless something was done to improve the hoiising and health conditions among the Maoris the board and contributing bodies would become bankrupt. The discussion arose from comments by the chairman, Mr. A. J. Kirkham, who said that the impossible conditions under which many of the native families were living threatened to add a grave responsibility to those already carried by the board. He instanced the case of a Maori man and woman with eight children living in a single-roomed hut at Iluatoria. The dwelling was without windows and had an earth floor. He contended that the children of such a family must suffer in health. Government's Housing Policy Much had been heard of the Government's policy of providing money for Maori housing, said Mr. Kirkham, but he thought that £4OO or £SOO should not be spent on individual houses while so many other natives did not even have a room which furnished good accommodation. Mr. A. B. Williams pointed out that in some cases Maoris Avho were no better off than their neighbours maintained a decent house and a good standard of living. These cases were exceptions, however. He suggested that the only remedy was to put the Maoris in concentration camps under military control. Mr. Williams said he knew of one case where a native had received as much as £2OOO in a single payment and had at least £IOOO in the bank, and yet preferred to live in these disgraceful conditions. Special Grant to be Sought The chairman expressed the opinion that part of the trouble was due to the fact that liberal family allowances and pensions resulted in the natives being unwilling to work. Mr. Henry Williams pointed out that there were cases where families with 10 children were living on as little as £2 or £3 a month. It was decided that the secretary should accompany a deputation from the Waiapu County Council to Wellington to represent to the Ministers concerned the position of the board's district, with a view to securing a special grant to ease the burden on ratepayers arising from the living conditions and general indigence of the Maoris.