TRANSFER OF NATIVES

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20002, 29 July 1939, Page 2

TRANSFER OF NATIVES

HAWKE’S BAY TO TOLAGA MARRIED MEN INCLUDED PROTEST FROM HASTINGS (Special to tlio Herald.) HASTINGS, this day. A protest has been made by natives of -the Hastings district regarding the decision to transfer a number of Maoris from that area to Tolaga Bay. Already 18 -single men have gone north, and a further batch is to include married men with dependents. The immediate hardship being caused by this policy was emphasised by Mr. K. Karaitiana. Some of these men, he said, had been having a fairly hard time of it as far as employment was concerned, and in someinstances- very real distress- would be caused if the head of the family was taken away from the home. The Maoris to whom he was referring were mostly living in homes in Hastings, and Tn some of the cases it would mean that there would be left young families ira derelict circumstances. Social and Moral Dangers “Of course, it can be arranged for the payment of some of the man’s earnings to be made to the wife,” he said, “but social and moral dangers ore created iby the enforced separation effected by the policy adopted by the authorities.” Mr. Karaitiana pointed out that the men who were being taken to Tolaga Bay and to the Maori farm development schemes in the Wairoa district, had mostly -been seasonal workers in and around Hastings. It was- -unlikely, he thought, that many of these would- -be able to return to take up work next season, with the consequence that the farmers were likely to suffer a shortage of labour. Maoris on Sustenance He was critical of thd procedure followed in dealing with Maoris on relief and sustenance, and instanced the case of where one man was on the poinlt of leaving a young family and a wife who was seriously ill. Fortunately he was able to inform the social security office of the circumstances and the man- was allowed to remain. “There is no Maori welfare officer in Hastings,” said Mr. Karaitiana, “and consequently these Maoris have no understanding guidance whatever. Recently prosecutions were pending against a number of young Maoris who had made mis-statements in filling -in their forms. Fortunately it was recognised that it was asking too much, of the uneducated natives to expect them to comply with al! the official requirements. “It does seem out of place,” he added, “that Maoris should be taken right away from Hastings and’ the pas in this district, while p-akehas, who perhaps, have come from other districts, work on -the roads alongside the pas.”