Debate On Maori Seats

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31120, 25 July 1966, Page 8

Debate On Maori Seats

(N.Z. Press Association) WELLINGTON, July 24. A move toward abolishing the four Maori seats in Parliament provoked lively debate at a National Party conference committee meeting yesterday.

Before the committee was a remit recommending that Government consider now the fixing by statute of a date for the abolishing of the Maori seats.

The remit was by-passed in favour of a recommendation by the party’s Maori advisory and organisation committee. The party’s vice-president representing the Maori race, Mr J. Te. H. Grace, said the Maori committee suggested that the remit be returned to the party for full consideration and for report later to th Dominion council. This recommendation will go before the party conference on Monday. During debate Mr Grace said abolition of the Maori seat at present would seriously endanger marginal seats held by the National Party. A Dominion councillor, Mr

P. J. Hura, said he would hate to see the National Party accused of forcing something on the Maori people without giving them the chance to decide. In support of the original remit delegates had argued “we should be one people," and that the National Party should show the rest of the country and the world its feeling on racial discrimination. Earlier, a remit that the Government be urged to initiate a move toward the extension of the term of Parliament from three years to four was lost 54 to 34 in committee.