ELECTORAL ROLL FOR MAORIS WANTED

Chronicle (Levin), 29 March 1947, Page 2

ELECTORAL ROLL FOR MAORIS WANTED

NATIONAL PARTY STUDYING NATIVE PROiiLEM WELLINGTON, March 28. The opiiiion that time had come i'« > «* thc provision of an electoral rolJ for Maori eleetors so that their voling sys tem and procedure miglit be brought into line as far as possible with tluit . m operation in European constiluenc-ic.-, was expressed by a special connnittee on Maori all'airs in a report subinitted to the two-day caucus of the Nationa. Party which concluded today. Tli* connnittee also tliought thorc was room for some great improvement in the ap Iiroach to tlie question of Ihe health o. Maoris in general. The Lcader of tlie Opposition (Mr. »S. i 0- Holland) stated today that the com I mittee had under considcration a miiu j ber of matters relating to tlie general welfare, health, education, land tunui*.: and electoral privileges of tlie Maun people, and that a mosf useful and far Teaching rcport was presented. Tln* committee, although it had not ve: ' quite completed its work, made soiue j snggestions which tlie partv felt sun' would be of very real benelil to the Dominion in future years. Proposals were subinitted which, if ultiinately adopted, would do much toward cliecking the drift of tlie younger Maoris into the morc densely populated . urb;ui centres, toivard the encouragement of more productive rural policy, and to j ward the provision of wider and belter | training of Maori youth in tliose trades, crafts and professions for whi.'ii they had by nature a specia] aptitude The committee recognised with sincere appreciation the part plaved by Ihe Maoris themselves in the securing of ultimate victory in thc recent wai* and advanced certain suggestions of a praetical character whcreby the civil and politieal status of tlie Maori might be improved, . wliereby his eeonomic posi- ' tion miglit be more suitablv developed, and whereby the finer traditions and instincts of his race might lind due and proper expression.