Flaxroots News

Mana (Auckland), Volume 2, Issue 4, 18 May 1978, Page 3

Flaxroots News

A seminar was held on Maori land at the Freeman’s Bay Community Centre over the weekend. Lead speaker was John Wilson who is the lawyer in , the Neighbourhood Law Centre, Grey Lynn. Subjects covered were Maori Land Law generally aqd specific reference to the power of the Maori Trustee, Incorporations, what requirements when we establish ourselves as Maori land owners are needed to make us legal owners and how we can be confirmed as shareholders in Incorporations, or blocks of land. The Documentation necessary to establish such rights was explained. Those attending were mainly young Maoris involved in various land struggles throughout the country. They came from as far away as Kaikohe in the North and Mangakino in the South.

MANA congratulates all our people who were involved in the struggle to improve the lot of all workers by their struggle at Kawerau. The way the company engineered this dispute and caused great hardship to a work-force which is composed overwhelmingly of our people is just another example of the oppressive forces operating against us in this society.

A meeting was held in Auckland to explore the idea of setting up a Maori and Pacific Island group within the Public Service Association. Twelve representatives from the various groups were present at the initial meeting.

The Management Committee of the Pouahani Incorporation have decided to sell the land on which the township of Mangakino is situated. All sections in the township have been leasehold land until now but the management committee has evidently decided that the owners will net a better return in selling their land. Whether the owners will share this view seems unlikely. Te Matakite o Aotearoa has already been asked by some owners to assist in stopping the sales.

The Federation of Labour elected its first woman to the executive of the F.O.L. We salute the success of Sonya Davies and look forward to the day when we have the first Maori on that august body.

Te Huinga Rangatahi held their annual hui at Dunedin ovei the weekend. The 200 youn£ Maoris present supported Te Reo Maoris petition to have regular Newscasts on televisior in Maori.

The Federation of Laboui executive did not allow Joe Hawke the right to address conference. In doing so the leadership declined a requesl from the Auckland Trades Council for Joe to speak and was well out of step with the wishes of the delegates. Our reporter al the Conference considers there was a strong desire delegates to hear Joe speak.