NATIVE AFFAIRS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 9, Issue 15, 16 October 1945, Page 5

NATIVE AFFAIRS

TRIBUTE TO DEPARTMENTS WORK QUESTION OF HOUSING It was pleasing to listen to tributes paid from both sides of the House to the work of Sir Apirana Ngata who was responsible for the establishment of the Native. Development scheme said Mr W. Sullivan (National, Bay of Plenty) in the House of Representatives when the Native Department Estimates were under discussion. The Ruatoki scheme .was developing splendid farms the supervision was excellent, and much credit was due to Sir Apirana in establishing the Ruatoki dairy factory in the face of criticism from present Ministers' of the Crown. Some of those Ministers were applauding the scheme today. Something should be clone to improve the living conditions of the landless Natives on the East said Mr Sullivan. There were many areas containing small quantities of millable timber owned by Maori people and if small milling plants were installed and operated by Maoris, a good (leal of timber could be made available to> assist the De.partment in housing Natives. Many Maoris were good carpenters, and if such schemes were much could be. done to overcome the despicable eyesores or so-called houses, in which Natives lived in parts of the North Island. Mr Sullivan said that people on the East Coast were bewildered at the aggregation going on. Twenty-one year leases were falling due ? and when Europeans went off the the properties came under the East Coast Commission. The area held and operated by the trust was now something like 250 ? 000 acres and its investments aggregated something like £65 500. There was no end of land available for Maori settlement there. 11' the East Coast Commission had fulfilled its function and met the original liability that was attached to that country, then the situation should be reviewed with the object of getting settlement there as rapidly as possible.. If there were Maoris in the Gisborne territory who wanted land for rehabilitation, then'some of thfjt land should be made available. a here was no justification for any one to say that there was not sufficient land in the East Coast area if it was selected under proper headings for the rehabilitation of Maori servicemen from that terri. tory.