Soviet Delegate Learns About Maoris

Chronicle (Levin), 3 December 1948, Page 5

Soviet Delegate Learns About Maoris

Received Thursday, 7.20 p.m. BYDNEY, Dee. 2. When the Soviet delegate, Mr. K. V, Novikov, questioned the liviug stan-. daiqls of tlie Maori people during a debate at the eonferehce of tlte Economic (.'oium.iss.ion for Asia and the Far East, tlie New Zealand delegate, Brigadier F. L. Hunt,- replied emphatically that tjio Alaoris had the sanie living standards as whites and added: "Nowherje else in the world does anotlier native ra,ce enjoy sueh privileges. Unemployment ainoiig the Maoris is the lowest in the world and the same standard., of living and education are enjoyed by Maoris and whites. The two races have the utmost regard and resp.ect for e.acli otlier. " Mr. Novikov claimed that the mortality rate among the Maoris was 25 per thousand compared with 10 per thousand among the whites. Brigadier Hunt quoted 1947 mortality figures which were: White 9.38, Maoris 14. ' ' Having regard to mf aut niortality .rates of which New Zealand ean justly claim to have the lowest in the world, 1 ' added Brigadier Hunt, ' ' it may please tlie Bo'viet delegate to know that the birtlirate among the Maoris is nearly twice as high as that of the whites, namely, 40.86 as against 26.42. Does this indicate a low standard oi' living? "