MAORI DEPARTMENT.

White Ribbon, Volume 30, Issue 356, 18 March 1925, Page 5

MAORI DEPARTMENT.

Last month after some preliminary correspondence Sister Dobby, of Hokianga, kindly consented to prepare the way for a visit from Mrs Fulljamcs with the object of forming a Maori W.C.T.U. there. She had arranged for meetings to bp held in 3 Maori settlements, and a European meeting at Rawene. When they duly arrived at Otawa, 5 miles away from Taheke, their disappointment was great when the Secretary of the Women’s Committee there, told them that sin* had just received a letter from Dr. Duck, prohibiting meetings of any description amongst the natives, owing to the outbreak of infantile paralysis. However, these things cannot be helped or forseen, disappointments and set-backs seem quite the natural order of things. Fortunately our Auckland workers are not easily discouraged and are even now planning and hoping for better times ahead. We are very grateful to Sister Dobby, for the amount of work and organising she has put in for us there, and confident that it will not be wasted. When they found that it was impossible to assemble any Maoris, Sister Dobby invited some European

friends to her house, and Mrs Fill 1james formed a Branch with Sister Dobby as President, to which we wish every success, and know’ that they will have at heart the Maori side of our work, and that when the restrictions are lifted our Maori Union may yet be formed there. Through Sister Jessie, I have now’ got into touch with several Mission centres where they are glad to make use of our leaflets, and in this way we can hope to prepare the ground for our Union Worker when we are successful in obtaining one. On Mrs Fulljames’ return journey she communicated with Mrs Noda and Mrs Wright, President of our Maungaturoto branch with the object of, if possible, getting a meeting there. This was done, Mrs Noda riding in miles to be present at it. Mrs Fuljames spoke to them on our Maori work, emphasising the great need for keeping in touch with them, and the Maungaturoto Union has promised to visit and encourage the Batley Maori Sisters, so we may hope that w r hen the restrictions as regards meetings is removed, much

good will result from her visit to the North. N. F. WALKER, Maori Department. Upper Fox Street, Gisborne.