DIFFERENT TREATMENT

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19240, 4 February 1937, Page 14

DIFFERENT TREATMENT

NEEDED FOR MAORIS HANDLING OF MONEY MR LANGSTONE’S WARNING (Per Press Association.) WHANGAREI, last night. “We feel that the Maori requires different treatment from the pakeha,” said Air. T, Moor, Kaikohe, when he waited on the Hon. F. Langstone, aetingNative Minister, to-day, concerning the natives and drink. Mr. Moor said that lie was representing the Kaikohe Chamber of Commerce, which had prepared data on the matter. “There still appears to he some rankling feeling of injustice in the hearts of the Maoris,” proceeded Mr. Moor. “To say that the Maori should get the same pay as the pakeha does not meet the position. We as a business people certainly want the Maoris to have additional income, but I am afraid that they have not been educated up to spending money in the right way. They spend far too much on drink. In the desire to help, it would seem that the Government has not helped at all, EXCESSIVE DRINKING Itfeplyiifg to Mr. Moor, Mr. Langstone said he had warned the Maoris throughout the north against excessive drinking. “I’ve told the Maoris, ’’ he said, “that the ones who drink bring disgrace on their tribes and that no Maori who loves his own people will bring discredit on them.”

The Minister said that the pakeha did not mind paying taxation if it really assisted the Maori.

“However,” he continued, “if the Maori does not spend money in the right way and do the right thing, we will take it away from him and spend it for him by placing food and clothing in his home. We’ve done it before, and not only with the Maori. We are the elder brother to the Maori and cannot wash our hands like Pontius Pilate and say: ‘lt is no concern of ours.’

“We are,” he continued, “asking for co-operation from the pakehas, so that the besmirching finger of scorn which has been pointed at the Maori can be taken away. ’

NO STIGMA ON RELIEFJWORKERS Workers receiving relief assistance in the Iverikeri district told Mr. Langstone that, because circumstances had forced them on to this work, there was a “stigma” placed on them, and they found it difficult to get work again pri-. vately in the district. “Don’t take any notice of a lot of snobs, - ” advised the Minister. “Many of these people are receiving pensions and superannuation, (contributed by people who are not as well off as themselves. They are receiving a dole in a greater sense than you are. I pity them in their ignorance.