DOMINION CONFERENCE

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 11, Issue 63, 6 August 1947, Page 5

DOMINION CONFERENCE

SECOND N.Z.E.F. ASSN. WELFARE OF MAORI EXSERVICEMEN The following are remits submitted to the Dominion Conference of the Second N.Z.E.F. Association by Lieutenant Colonel Awatere D.S.O. M.C., a former commander of the 28th Maori Battalion. The remits were later presented to Cabinet by Mr P. R. Wairua (Whakatane), Dominion Executive. The Minister of Native Affairs, in accepting them, lent his full com* mendation to the remits. The remits were under three headings and were as follows: . Rehabilitation 1. That farming loans be granted to Maori ex-servicemen who hat'e a 42 years lease of Maori land, as opposed to a lease in perpetuity and provision -for 100 per cent, compensation, which is the present policy of the Rehabilitation Department. 2. That, as a temporary rehabilitation measure, Maori ex-servicemen be employed in production work, where possible, on Maori farms. in their own districts and such work to be subsidised by the Government.

3. That the Government shall exploit and pursue with utmost vigour the scheme of small farms • settlement in order to increase production and accelerate the rehabilitation of Maori ex-servicemen. Housing

4. That representations be made by the Minister in Charge of Maori Affairs on behalf of his trustant Maori ex-servicemen to the appropriate authoi’ity, for a definite quota of building materials (other than timber) available in the country, according to the number of Maori exservicemen who have been granted loans but whose houses are still waiting to be built. 5. That, where timber is being cut under timber grants and licenses over Maori land, some provision be made by the Controller for the allocation of a portion of such timber for the building of houses for Maori ex-servicemen: Social 6. That legislation be introduced to give Maori ex-servicemen equality of liquor privileges with their pakeha comrades.