MAORI ARTS AND CRAFTS.

Taranaki Daily News, 3 September 1926, Page 7

MAORI ARTS AND CRAFTS.

SCHOOLS MAY BE ESTABLISHED. (By Wire Parliamentary .Reporter.) Wellington, Last Night. By the Maori Arts and Crafts Bill, which has just been introduced into the House of Representatives it is proposed to set up a board, the composition of which will be determined later by Order-in-Couneil, with the object of fostering and encouraging the study and practice of Maori arts and crafts. The board is emy/owered to establish, one or more schools of Maori art and to acquire the necessary laud and buildings, appoint instructors, provide equipment and do whatever else may be necessary to further the project. It may make grants to any schools or classes formed for the pur* pose of giving instruction in or encouraging the practice of Maori arts and crafts. It may deal in articles produced in the schools or elsewhere and may buy objects of Maori art for tho use of the schools or for any other purpose it may have in view.

The board is also empowered to print and publish works upon Maori traditions, life and other kindred subjects, and to accept and undertake the custody of Maori antiquities, which may be the property of the Crown or may be entrueted to it by any court or person. Parliament may appropriate ft yearly sum towards the carrying on of the board’s work and the Arawa District Trust Board and the Maori Purposes Fund Control Board are authorised. to make .payments from their respective funds at Meir discretion for the same purpose. Nothing in ihe Bill affects the provisions ef the Maori Antiquities Act,