MAORI WELCOME

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18588, 24 December 1934, Page 5

MAORI WELCOME

MR FORBES AT ROTORUA

WELFARE OF NATIVES

PREMIER’S ASSURANCE 1

In his new capacity as Minister of Native Affairs, the Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. G. W. Forbes, received a warm welcome at Ohinemutu on Friday from representatives of the Maori tribes throughout New Zealand, who have assembled to greet the Duke of Gloucester. M As regards my position, as Native Minister,” said Mr Forbes, in the course of his reply, “I took over the portfolio as Prime Minister in order to assure the Maori people that the policy of land settlement commenced and carried on so well by Sir Apirana Ngata would be continued, and everything possible would be done to establish! the Maori people on their own land and safeguard their welfare.

“Sir Apirana Ngata, who was already a member of Parliament when I entered it 26 years ago, and I have been close friends right through. He will tell you what is in my heart so far as the Maori people are concerned. I know the responsibility that is mine as Prime Minister and Native Minister—the responsibility for the welfare and prosperity of the Maori people. I remember the work of my predecessors from the days of Sir James Carroll, who was a Minister when I entered Parliament, and, I want to carry the responsibility so that, when my successor comes, he will be able to say that I tried to do all I could for the welfare of the Maori people.’ (Applause.) >

ADDRESS OF WELCOME.

Mr. Forbes reminded his hearers that all classes of the community were having a difficult time, and assured them that he would have the full help of Sir Apirana Ngata, who would tell them that he, Mr. Forbes, had backed him in having the settlement schemes commenced and had helped him in carrying them on. He was also assured of the assistance of the other Maori and European members in trying to make the path of the Maori people as smooth as possible.

The address of welcome presented to Mr. Forbes began as follows: “We, representatives of the Maori tribes of the two islands of Aotearoa and Te Waipounamu, rssembled at Rotorua to receive His Royal Highness Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester, take this opportunity of congratulating you on the assumption of the portfolio of Native Minister. We are satisfied that in your hands, with your mana as head of the Government, and with the views yon have from time to time publicly expressed, the affairs of our people will be sympathetically administered.”