PLIGHT OF MAORIS

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 17, 4 February 1937, Page 6

PLIGHT OF MAORIS

More Land Needed For Northern Tribes MINISTER'S PROMISE "The chief objective of my tour north is personally to ascertain the condition of the liative people at Te Hapua," said the acting-Minister of Native Affairs, the Hon. F. Langstone, to a large gathering of natives at To Hapua, North Auckland. "We iu Wellington have had aiarming repoits oi your living conditions, and the Piimo Minister instructed me to lools into these reports. Mare Henae Pouena, an elder of the sub-tribe, in welcoming the Minister, suggested that as most of the land between Spirits Bay and the North CaPe was suitable for gxuzing sheep and cattle, this land should be given to them and they could support themselves. "We have not enough land, but if the Minister could select a suitable place for us} then the surplus of the Aupoiru tribe would sei-tle the-e -even if that place be in heaven. We are quite prepared to go there 1" he said. Another request made by an elder of the tribe was -that a nurse should he stationed at tbe settlement so that they should not have to rely on one 40 miles away. A good water suppiy was also needed by the people. "No Government should allow the conditions that are existing in T© Hapua to continue any longer than is humanly possible,'' said Mr Langstone in reply. "Both pakeha and Maori must have proper lands and adequate food for themselves and their children. I hope that with the cooperation of your people we shall in a few short years effect a transformatidn at Te Hapua. Where we have suitable land to settle the natives close to their settlements the problena is simplified, but it does not look to me as if there is.any adjacent to Te Hapua. We will have to find eome suitable land for the Maoris, and I am going to ask the Government to place Crown lands at the disposal of the .Native Department for the settlement of the Maori race.. We will have to see that you are given better conditions. "I 'am going to ask the elders of the ti*ibe to get together and let me know what the Government can do for- you. We do not want any nonsense, as h."ppens in regard to your land. You hoid meeting after meeting and wrangle for years before you reaeh a decision. While I am acting-Minister of Nafcive Affairs I want to* do something of value for the native race, so tha-t .*f«m can he assured of my support, but then you yourselves must get behind the Government and help us to help yOu;" concluded the Minister. "J hear strange tales of what- the pakeha has been doing to the people of Te Hapua,", said Mr H. M- Rushworth, M.P., for the Bay of Islands electorate. . "I hear that £2000 a year comes into Te Hapua from pensions and other allowances. Where does this money go? I hear that some pakehas are seh'j^t you bad stoies; then I am ashanmd to represent such pakeaas. This practice must stop, and I will do all in my power to stop it."