A SERIOUS POSITION

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 17944, 23 November 1932, Page 7

A SERIOUS POSITION

MAORI UNEMPLOYED PROMPT ACTION NEEDED LAND MUST BE INDIVIDUALISED (Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, tins day. Disclosing that the increasing expenditure of unemployment relief to Maoris has for some time been giving the Unemployment Board a great deal of concern, Mr. J. S. Jessep, deputy-chair-man of the board, in an interview today, expressed a strong conviction that the immediate paramount need of the natives, if the situation were to be arrested, is tlie provision of facilities lor establishing themselves as individual settlers on their own lands.

For 20 years, Mr. Jessep lias been intimately associated with the Maori race on the East Coast, and since joining the Unemployment Board lie has been closely watching the situation as it affects them. Summed up, bis conclusions which carry added importance as they result from personal observation are : The need for the individualisation of native lands is imperative. There is no alternative. ’I lie process must be- brought to a speedy completion. The country is at the parting of the ways as far as the Maori rare is concerned. Unless the Maoris are assisted, and assisted promptly, to take their place as individual settlers side by side with the- European farmers, they will be unable to keep pace with the country’s progress, and the next decade may witness the deterioration of which the necessitv of their widespread acceptance. of relief is to-day’s warning.

Mr. .Tessep points out that, the Maori population, including half-castes, is 68.000. of whom 66 OW are in the North Island. Of these, 49.CC0 are in tho_ Auckland provincial district, mostly in the, North Auckland and the _ East Const areas. It is officially estimated that male Maoris between (bo ages of 20 to 64 years number 15.000. At the end of October last, the number contributing In 111., uriemnlovment funds was 0000. T| 10 rTuenmlnvnv.nl TW,I. Mr. JfSCn adds is now navin rr relief to Maoris at |||.> Vale of .C 166.000 a year, or over cvw) a week, “"'■••v: Aueus 1 and Sen. (ember last, £27.684 wits paid to 5200 Maoris.