WAIMANA MAORSS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 70, Issue 81, 13 June 1944, Page 5

WAIMANA MAORSS

MINISTERIAL VISIT HONS. SEMPLE AND PARRY On Wednesday last, a Ministerial party consisting of the Hon. W. E. Parry, Minister of Pensions and Social Security, the Hon. R. Sempie, Minister of Works, Mr T'. Omana M.P. for Eastern Maori, Mr Sullivan M.P. for Bay of Plenty, visited the Tulioe Pa at the top of the Wairaanu Valley for the purpose of discussing with the people some of their urgent needs. The Hon. E. T. Tirikatenc was able to be present, but was recalled on account of his .son's death. The meeting extended over two days, and amongst other matters the Maoris requested that the road from Waimana to the pa, some 12 miles in length, should be put in order, that a native school be provided, also that a post office and telephone be provided. The Maoris also suggested that the heavily-covered bush lands surrounding the pa should be permanently preserved by the State on account of t,hc danger of flooding and erosion in the lower valleys if the bush is denuded and in return for this land the younger natives should be settled on areas near Retewhakaitu and Ohiwa. The chief spokesman for the natives mentioned that this was the first time they had even hacl a visit from a member of Parliament. The Minister of Works, Hon. R. Sempie, said that from his own observations it was quite evident that the.people there had ben badly neglected. The road was unquestionably bad, and the Public Works Department would go into the matter. The other matters which did not come under his department would be taken up with the Ministers concerned, and he was sure that, they would be sympathetically treated. Mr Semple's remarks Avere endorsed by the Hon. W. E. Parry, who also gave an address (reported elsewhere in this issue), on the question of Social Security as it affects the Maori of to-day.