What Became Of Report On Maoris?

Chronicle (Levin), 2 July 1948, Page 5

What Became Of Report On Maoris?

Press Association)

(Per

WELLINGTON, July 1. Two matters relating to the Maori people, were diseussed in the House of .iepresen.tatives today. Mr. G. P. 8im (Waikato) asked the Prime Minister if it were correct that, as alleged recently by the Rev. Blackwood Moore, of Auckland, the Goveruineiit had suppressed a report on Maori problems compiled by the Waiapu branch of the New Zealand Educationai Institute. Mr. Bim asked whether, it that were correct, Mr. Fraser would indicate under what authority the report was suppressed and why was the aetion taken. Mr. Fraser said there was not one word of truth in the ^statement. That was as clear as he could make it. He had never heard of the report before it was mentioned by the Rev. Moore. Mr. Fraser said that judglng by the stateinent of Mr. J. S. E. Roberts, president of the N.Z.E.I., a eonfidential report prepared by the Waiapu branch of the Institute, was made public at some function in Gisborne and the Maori people resented it. The secre tary of the Institute, with members of it and some officers of the Educatioii Department, vVent to Gisborne alid saw the officers of Waiapu branch, as the' result of which the report was withdrawn. Mr. Fraspf said . that if there had been an unjust' report he would want it to be thoroughly investigated and ii tlre charges were wrong, the least that could be -dorie was to apologise. ' ' 1 have asked that the edueationM flies be searehed to see if in soine mysterious way my name was associated with it, " said Mr. Fraser. A few minutes later Mr.-R. G. Gerard (Ashburton) gavp notice to ask if it Were coiTect' that the four teaehers^wha •ompiled the report had been transi'erred. Mr. 8peaker imiriediat'ely intervened, saying that Mr. Gerard 's question. being based on a previous one, was out of order. Mr. Gerard 's question was withdrawn but not before the Prime Minister interjected that the allegatibn in question was uiitrue. '