MAORI RENTS UNPAID

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 17820, 1 July 1932, Page 4

MAORI RENTS UNPAID

A NEW PLYMOUTH STATEMENT The reason why so many Maoris were approaching the Taranaki Hospital Board for charitable aid was that they were not receiving their rents for Maori land, said Mr. E. R. C. Gilmour at a meeting of the board in New Plymouth, reports the Taranaki News. “The position to-day is that the Maoris are not getting their vents, and they have been dealing with butchers and bakers who will no longer give them credit,” Air. Gilmour added. “In the course of a few days it is expected that the whole matter will be made public. I have been informed from two or three sources that the rents due to the Maoris are two or three months overdue. _ A short time ago a meeting of natives was held at Waitotara for the express purpose of considering the non-payment of rents. Those Maoris are going to protest and present to the public the full details through the press.” M r . R. J. Deare said that the matter had been brought to the notice of the Native Minister, who had replied to the effect that he was very sorry the rents in these hard times could not be. paid. Mr. Deare understood the mortgagees were receiving the. interest from the landholders, hut the natives were not receiving their reifts.