DESTITUTION AMONG THE MAORIS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9175, 26 August 1908, Page 5

DESTITUTION AMONG THE MAORIS.

By Telegraph—Press Association. AUCKLAND, August 25. The topic of public interest at present is the subject of destitution among the Maori population consequent upon the statement made in the House by Mr Wilford, Mi P. From inquiries made the following information has been obtained: — There are no Maoris on the shores of Lake Rotorua in a state of destitution, but at Mourea, a pah on the banks of the Ohau channel connecting Rotorua and Rotoiti. there are several amall families who need assistance. The cause of this is that the men of this pah were working last year at the Okere Falls power-house extension, but during the last two months they have had no work to do, and their credit is exhausted. A quantity of potatoes has been sent to them by some of the Rotorua people, but more assistance will be needed. The crops grown at Mourea last year were not very successful, and that may account to some extent for the state of affairs now obtaining. Inquiries made by Dr. Buck, the Rev. F. A. Bennett and Mr T. Mitchell, showed that twenty adults had done no work for two or three months, and those dependent on them were in straitened circumstances. In response to a telegram from the Rev. F. A. Bennett stating the position, Sir Joseph Ward telegraphed on Saturday that he would confer with the Minister for Roads with reference to starting some relief works.