MANY IDLE MAORIS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 7, Issue 19, 29 October 1943, Page 2

MANY IDLE MAORIS

, 4, CONDITIONS IN THE NORTH COMPLAFXTS BY FARMERS Complaints of an unsatisfactory situation in regard to Maori workers in North Auckland were voiced by Mr by Mr J. W. Jones (Bay of Islands) at the monthly meeting of tlie Auckland Provincial Executive of the New Zealand Farmers' Union on 20th October. Mr Jones said that while labour was needed urgently on northern farms it was impossible to obtain satisfactory service from a large body of natives, who preferred drawing pensions to working on farms. The president (Captain H. M. Rushworth): Boys of 18 drawing old age pensions it you please! Mr Jones said there were hundreds of second grade men in military camps in the Dominion, who were unfit for active service and. Avho would be better employed on farms. In addition to this unsatisfactory position, there was the unreliability of natives in the North, a fact that was well known to the authorities. He spoke of instances that had occurred in the North. The Maoris ay ere granted many advantages not received, by pakchas. For example if a native wished to attend a hui at any distance he Avas given all the petrol that he wanted to take, him away from his job} while pakchas who required it for really essential purposes could not obtain it. Mr Heath Mason (Te Kuiti) said in many-cases Maoris, who could work well, would not work more than a certain number of days in a week lest they lost family allowances or pension rights. The president said that the problem was a difficult one. They could not get any help from the Government. No Government would com-

pel the Maori to ■work. Mr E. Palliser (Springdale): And yet the Government makes, capital overseas of the Maori, by saying there is no native problem in New Zealand. Mr Fnrniss said that some of the Maoris wished to do the right thing. He specially mentioned the good work of the tribal councils on the East Coast. However, the present Administration now held all the Maori votes in Parliament, and the natives regarded the G6vernnient as a '-.Father Christmas." Mr Hewlett (YVhangarei) said that many of the older Maoris in his district were excellent workers, but the young men were going to pieces. It was all "beer and benzine" with them. On the motion of Mr Furniss, seconded by Mr Hewlett, it avhs resolved that contact be made with the Maori tribal coouneils, with the view of interesting them in the problem of Maori labour, and. that* the matter be left in the hands of the President and Provincial Secretary ,