INTERESTS OF MAORIS

New Zealand Herald, Volume 82, Issue 25346, 30 October 1945, Page 6

INTERESTS OF MAORIS

EDUCATION, COMPENSATION MR FRASER HEARS OLAIMS fO.C.) ROTORUA, Monday Before his departure for Wellington todnv, the Prime Minister, Mr Fraser, received deputations representing the Maori War Effort Organisation and the Ngati-Whakaue community at Obinemutu Replying to a request by Major H. R. Vereoe that the war effort organisation should bo maintained to assist rehabilitation and other activities designed to benefit the native race, Mr Fraser said he was wholly in agreement with the idea that the war effort organisation, which had had a spontaneous growth in a time of existing tribal committees, should he given statutory authority under the pending Maori Councils Bill In reply to a suggestion by Mr A, Gordon that sufficient, funds be made available to enable sawmills to be established to produce native-owned timber for the exclusive benefit of Maori housing, Mr Fraser said he did not know what practical difficulties -faced such a venture, but he would consult the Minister in charge of the Forestry Department, Mr Skinner. Mr Fraser said he was keen to see the establishment of an agricultural high school for Maori children. He made special reference to the vocational studies at the Horohoro. Whakare-n-arewß and Murupara native schools as examples of what could be accomplished in the early training of future farmers.

The chief spokesman for the NgatiWhaknue deputation, Mr Z. N. Mitchell, said in a commission had recommended the pavment to the subtribe of at least £7OOO as compensation for early grants of land in Rotorua. This monev had not vet. been paid. Mr R. King said the proposed beneficiaries were not quite satisfied with the amount of the commission's award, nnd mentioned £70.000 as being nearer to the tribe's idea of the present value of the land. "That is only ten times the sum the commission awarded," snid Mr Fraser. He added that he would give the matter his early attention.

The Prime Minister expressed hln approval of the delegation's suggestion that one of the two Government nominees on the Potorna Ylorongh Council should be a representative of the Maori people, but he gave no encouragement to a claim advanced by Mr Cordon that the Ngati-Whalcaue. hv -virtue of an old right to free treatment at the Potorua Hospital, were entitled while nntients to retain full acre where these were also payable Mr Frnser snid that if one exception were made it would open the door tn n+bers. Tt wns dnncrerous to tinker with Hie provisions of social security even ii-ider r>n nveienf ri<rht.