POLICY FOR MAORI PEOPLE PRAISED BY LEADERS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 15, Issue 7, 8 March 1950, Page 4

POLICY FOR MAORI PEOPLE PRAISED BY LEADERS

Described by Sir Apirana Ngata .—himself a former holder of the portfolio—as the finest statement of policy ever delivered by a Minister of Maori Affairs, a speech given' by Mr E. B. Corbett in a conference with district Maoris at Gisborne recently aroused keen enthusiasm, j The Minister was speaking on recommendations and inquiries made .principally by Sir Apirana and Mr !A. T. Carroll, covering matters of j national and local importance to the | Maori people.

Main Points In brief the undertakings given by the Minister were:— (1) To continue existing safeguards against compulsory acquisition of Maori land for servicemen’s or general settlement. (2) To make no drastic changes in the present system of taxation on profits from block administration of Maori lands; (3) To push forward as rapidly as possible the consolidation of interests in Maori land. (4) To take action to liquidate certain trusts under which Maori lands are withheld from the direct management of their owners. (5) To investigate causes of lack of progress under the Maori ■Social,-and Economic Development Act. I , “Don’t conjure up the tamwha! urged the Minister, impressing upon his audience that many fears which had been raised during the recent election campaign were entirely groundless. He stated that many people were carrying in their minds and hearts fears which had no justification whatever, in regard to the new administration of- their racial affairs.