Maori Council Visits Trentham

Te Ao Hou, December 1968, Page 27

Maori Council Visits Trentham As part of ‘Rangitahi Week’, members of the New Zealand Maori Council made two visits to Trentham on Saturday, 24 August. The first was to Wi Tako, a penal institution for first offenders, where the council was met and challenged by members of the Maori Club. After the welcoming speeches, Mr Hobson the Superintendent asked Council members for their help, saying that they could approach their local probation officers, police and Prisoners' Aid Society branch. He said that in many cases when men went to prison their wives and families also commenced a sentence and needed help far beyond the financial assistance handed out by society. Mr Hobson also commended the During the Maori Council's visit to the Trentham Hostel, Mrs Miria Karauria, President of the Maori Women's Welfare League chats to Sam Lemmon, Tokoroa, and Harry Mahanga, Whangarei National Publicity Studios interest shown by Mr Jock McEwen who had instructed the boys in carving and had persuaded him to allow them to attend the local Maori Club. This had proved to be very valuable He said, “Over the years I have found that only a Maori can ‘get through 100%’ to another Maori.” Following morning tea the visiting party went on to the Maori Apprentices' Hostel, where after a challenge, welcoming speeches, song and haka, lunch and a look at the boys' quarters, some of the problems faced by the boys were discussed. One speaker considered that although the trade trainees were given very good technical training, socially they were three continued on page 24 Outside the Trentham hostel buildings after the welcome to members of the New Zealand Maori Council. From left: Taylor Hall, Rotorua, Pinto Aranga, Murupara, the late Mr Walter Tepania, Kaitaia, Ashley Anderson, Waikaremoana and Egypt Munro, Wairoa