MAORI ARTS AND CRAFTS

New Zealand Times, Volume LIII, Issue 12618, 1 December 1926, Page 4

MAORI ARTS AND CRAFTS

BOARD APPOINTED PERSONAL ANNOUNCEMENT SCOPE AND FUNCTIONS In order to foster the study and practice of Maori arts and craft®, and in accordance with the Act passed during last Parliamentary session, a board has been set up to execute the functions of the Act. The personnel of the board, together with its functions, wan announced by the Minister for Internal Affairs (the Hon. H. F. Bollard) yesterday. The board—the members of which number 11—is enumerated below: Chairman, the Minister for Internal Affaire; deputy-chairman, the Undersecretary, Department of Internal Affairs; the Hon. Sir Maui Pomare (Minister for Cook Islands); the Hon. A. T. Ngata (M.P. for the Eastern Maoris); Archdeacon H. W. Williams (all three members to represent the Maori Purposes Fund Control Board); Dr. P. H. Buck (Director of Maori Hygiene, Auckland); tlio Under-Secretary and Engin-eer-in-Chief, Public Works Department; Mr J. McDonald (assistant director, Dominion Museum, Wellington); Mr IV. Page-Kowe tan artist and enthusiastic member of the anthropological section of the Auckland branch of the New Zealand Institute); and Mr H. Hamilton (Dominion Museum), who is to be the secretary of the board. SCHOOLS OF ART In making the announcement of the appointment of members of the board, Mr Bollard said that the proposals in the legislation came originally from the Board of Maori Ethnological Research, a body which had done much valuable work. In addition to the provision relative to the appointment of the board the Act provides for the following matters:— The Governor-General may, by Order-in-Council make regulations with respect to the term of office, qualifications and disqualifications for membership, the mode of filling vacancies on the board, the pavment of administration expenses, the keeping and auditing of acoounte, and generally for such other purposes as may bo necessary to give effect to the Act. It shall be the duty of the board to foster and encourage the study and practice of Maori arts and crafts. In furtherance of its objects the board mav establish one or more Schools of Maori Art or other institutions for the study and practice of the arts and crafts as known to and practised by the Maori people, and for that purpose may acquire land and buildings. GRANTS AUTHORISED The board shall manage and control any school or other institution established by it and may: (a) Appoint and discharge instructors, teachers, and other officers or servants; . (b) Provide equipment and material for such schools; (©) Fix fees to be paid by those attending the sohools, or otherwise prescribe the terms and conditions on which instruction shall be (d) Generally make rules for the conduct and management of the school or other institution. The. board may also make grants to any schools or classes formed for the purpose of giving instructions in or encouraging tno practice of Maon arts and crafts. COLLECTION OF LORE The board may purchase, acquire, or vend any carvings or other articles having distinctive Maori characteristics either from or for such school of Maori art or otherwise; acquire books or publications connected with Maori arts and crafts; print or reprint any reference to Maori traditions, life or work considered worthy of permanent record; and generally to take such other steps as the board may consider necessary or expedient for the purpose of giving effect to the provisions of the Act or of any regulations thereunder. The board is empowered to accept and undertake the custody and control of any Maori antiquities as defined by the Maori Antiquities Act, 1908, which may be the property or in the possession of the Crown or may be entrusted to its custody by any court or person. FINANCE Tot the purpose of enabling the board to earry otft the objects of the Act: (a) There shall be paid into the account of the board each year such sum as may from time to time be appropriated by Parliament for the purpose; • . (b) The board may receive any sum of money paid to it by any person or body corporate for the purpose of assisting the activities of the board; m , _ , fo The Arawa District Trust Board, established under section twentyseven of the Native land Amendment and Native land Claims Adjustment Act, 1922, and the Maori Purposes Fund Control Board, esblished under section three of the Native Land Amendment and Native Land Claims Adjustment Act, 1924, are authorised to pay into the account of the board out of their respective funds such sums as they shall think fit: 4d) All moneys so paid into the account of the board may be expended for such purpose (not being inconsistent with the provisions of this Act) as the board shall from time to time direct. FRESH INTEREST In commenting on the decision of Cabinet come to under the legislation passed last session Mr Bollard said that all New Zealanders with a love of the Maori race and its arts would join m appreciating the action of the Government in its efforts to try and preserve the native arts which were admired in every country in the world.. , Every overseas visitor to the Dominion—and most have delight in diving into the early history of the country," remarked Mr Bollard—"genuinely admired the carvings of the Maori which unhappily were becoming rare. But the enterprising board set up by the Government will inspire fresh interest in the artists amongst the Maoris, and one can look forward to very keen progress being made in the future. That is the theme of the legislation."