MAORIS REMARRY

Hokitika Guardian, 29 July 1932, Page 6

MAORIS REMARRY

EUROPEAN CEREMONY NEEDED k§POSITION OF WORKERS

(Per Press Association — Copyright.)

AUCKLAND, July 28: Many" King Country Maoris married according to their ’ -- customs are now realising the value of possessing a regulation marriage- license, and many couples who have been married for upwards of thirty years are having their matrimonial state legalised according to European custom. Information from Kihikilii is to the effect that four of these weddings, tooic place there last week, and that arrangements are now being made for a further twenty such ceremonies. It has been discovered by the Maoris otherwise eligible for employment under the No. 5 scheme that they could not obtain work as married men unless they could produce marriage, licenses. 'This is in accordance with a ruling recently made .by the Unemployment Board to the effect that Maori may be put en The married men’s scale only if they have contracted a legal , matrimonial alliance which lias been registered in the same mannerf as is provided for the registration■ of European marriages. It was found that a number of the Maoris, were,' married according to their own customs. The men, "however, could not produce the requisite certificate when applying for a w'or-k under the No. 5 scheme, and in order to qualify they have now gone through a formal marriage -ceremony.