MAORI AFFAIRS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 9, Issue 17, 23 October 1945, Page 6

MAORI AFFAIRS

MATATUA DISTRICT COUNCIL

Following the formal swearing in of members for the current term, the first meeting the Matatua District Maori Council for the year took place at To Teko last Monday.

Mr Telhi Hawiki who has been chairman for the past ten years was again re-elected. Mr Hawiki after thanking members for his re-elec-tion also Lhanketl all chairman present of Village Committees for the splendid work rendered in carrying out their duties under the by-laws of the Maori Council and also for the general welfare of the Maori people ot the district.

Mr A. 11. Knighte T of the Health Department and Official member of the Council in support of the remarks made by the chairman stated that under the Act the Council had statutory powers to inflict punishments for any infringements of the law. With the evils surrounding

the Maoris today the future of the race was at stake any only by the enforcement of the by .laws under the Act. could required results be obtained. It Avas up to the Council as the parent body to see that the Village Committees appointed and Gazetted carried out the good work as had been* done in the pasit.

The committee made the appointment of Maori Police Wardens for each Maori district such as Te Teko Whakatane, Waimann and to assist the police officer or officers of the district in putting doAvn the illegal consumption and taking away of intoxicating liquor and the prevention of gambling in the Maori kaingas.

Consideration was also given to recommendations to the Rationing Officers of the district that all future applications by Maoris for sugar butter and tea for tangls or any other Maori ••iroiild lie made, to the chairman and secretary of each Villege Committee and countersigned by the Council member for the district at which application

was made. It was felt by the Council that in order to prevent misrepresentations by pertain sections of the Maori people in falsely obtaining the above commodities the above, recommendation should be adopted. This course was unanimously decided upon. The question of better bousing was also fully discussed.