MAORI AFFAIRS

Hokitika Guardian, 21 August 1930, Page 2

MAORI AFFAIRS

WHITEBAIT INDUSTRY. Matters of general policy were discussed by the Akarana Maori Association at Auckland. Mr J. Rukutai presided. Recently the association sent a letter to the New Zealand Land Settlement League asking the league to receive delegates from the association who would explain the Maori requirements in regard to land settlement. It is the hope of the association that the league will take up Maori land settlement as one of its items of activity, Further discussion on the matter took place last week, Satisfaction was exressed with the tariff in in respect to tobacco leal, the association being of the opinion that the protection afforded the many natives engaged in growing tobacco in New Zealand would be ample.

Another subject that was discussed was the proposal of the Government to bring in regulations for the control of. the 'whitebait industry. It was men' tioiied that whitebait was an important item of Maori food and also that many natives made their living by catching the fish. The Maoris claimed the first right to engage in the catching of whitebait, as til such fisheries were guaranteed them by the Treaty of Waitnngi. It was decided to write to the Minister of Marine and also to the Maori members of Parliament, asking them to watch the position from the Maori aspect. The question of motor car racing on the Ninety Mile Beach affecting the toheroa beds was further discussed and it was decided to communicate agaffi with the Minister of Marine on the matter. A committee was appointed to deal with all matters affecting fisheries. It is an aim of the association to get all natives to register the births of their children, in order that much of the trouble which arises at the present time out of applications for pensions and similar matters may he obviated in the future, Various phases of the position were considered without any resolution.