MAORI STANDARDS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23276, 20 February 1939, Page 11

MAORI STANDARDS

WAGES AND LIVING GOVERNMENT'S ENDEAVOURS RESPONSIBILITY OF NATIVES COUNTY RATING PROBLEM [BY TELEGRAPH —SPECIAL REPORTER] RUSSELL, Sunday "I am satisfied that the Maori can bo brought up to the pakeha standard of life," said the Minister of Public Works, the Hon. 11. Semple, when replying 011 Saturday to representations by the Kawakawa County Council on the difficulties experienced by it through the non-payment of native rates. It was explained by the chairman, Mr. H. T. Atkinson, that one-third of the county land was native and another third non-producing Crown land, which meant that the remaining third had to carry the rating burden. "Any business must have the financial means to develop," said Mr. Semple in making sympatliic reference to the particular problem of the nonpayment of native rates. "We are doing all we can for the native race. The Maori must have his place ,in tho sun. Wo recognise our responsibilities. The Maori has been placed upon the same footing as the pakeha on Public Works. He is now paid the same wages as thb pakeha and in 99 out of 100 casek be has responded. He isjbeing given decent dwellings and is being taken out of slums and hovels not fit for a rat.

"But, having done the best we can to placo the Maori on our standard, we expect him to carry his national responsibilities," continued the Minister. "We are trying to make it possible for him to pay his way. In the meantime the Government will have to do something in the county rating problem. That is a policy question and I shall pass on your representations to the Prime Minister, Mr. Savage, together with my comments."