WELFARE OF MAORI

Wairarapa Times-Age, 11 April 1939, Page 6

WELFARE OF MAORI

0 MASTERTON ROTARY CLUB INTEREST WORK AT GLADSTONE PRAISED. HOUSING & HEALTH CONDITIONS. The Masterton Rotary Club has for some time been interesting itself in matters pertaining to the welfare of Maoris in the Wairarapa, and at its luncheon last week it had three speakers on the subject, Mrs I. E. Dodds, headmistress of the Gladstone School, Messrs H. Truman, of the Health Department, and H. N. Tatare. who represents the Native race in the Dannevirke Rotary Club. Mrs Dodds said she considered that Rotarians were the right people in the right place to take up the question of improving the lot of the Maori race. Rotary was a great movement designed to meet the needs of the times. There could be no more worthy centennial memorial than a movement to promote the welfare of the Maoris. Under the Treaty of Waitangi the Native race was our hearitage and our liability. The Maoris had a great future, but they needed our leadership, and required tact and understanding to help them to build up a new mode of life to fit in with modern civilisation. After referring to the aims and objects of the recent Maori Labour Conference. Mrs Dodds said that a definite attempt had been made in Gladstone to improve the standard of living, the education and the health of the Maoris. Progress had necessarily been slow, and the work had rested on the shoulders of a few, but she was sure that the interest and enthusiasm of the Rotary Club would add zest and courage not only to the work at Gladstone, but throughout the whole of the Wairarapa. Mrs Dodds said that when returning to teach at Gladstone after an absence of nearly 20 years she found a number of children 14 years of age still in Standard 1, while in many cases the better pupils never reached Standard 3. They and their parents appeared quite satisfied. Transport had been provided for the seven children attending the school from the Pa, and the number had now increased to 27. This year there were two Maori children in Standard 6, who were doing as go oft work as any Europeans. She went on to deal with scholarships offered by the Presbyterian Women’s Missionary Union, and, when referring to housing conditions, said that about two years ago application was made by a Maori resident for a house under the Native Lands Department’s scheme. The Maori had done all that was required of him, but the timber had only arrived this- week. They were now wondering when the carpenters would be on the scene. A new school had also been promised for Gladstone, while three years ago the department agreed as to the need for a water supply. The schpol had money in hand to augment the department’s grant for water, but so far nothing had been done. Recently circulars had been received from the Health Department pointing to the necessity for teaching the children cleanliness, but what was the good of telling them- to wash their hands when they had no water? Mrs Dodds also elaborated on the work, of the adult classes at Gladstone, which were being run in conjunction with Wairarapa College, and paid a tribute to the work of Nurse Hodges, and Miss M. Barrer. A Cub Pack, she said, had been formed for the boys, while the girls were making excellent progress with St John Ambulance classes. At a recent first aid examination one Maori girl topped the list with 98 per cent marks, while two others secured high marks.

Mr Tatare said the work of the Maori Council, which looked after the welfare of the Natives from Wellington to Dannevirke, was made easy by the co-operation and assistance of Mr Truman. They had found that it was very necessary to have a representative of the Maoris to work in with the Health Department in order to create the proper atmosphere. After discussing the activities of the council, of which he is the chairman, Mr Tatare suggested that the Rotary Club might consider the appointment of a representative of the Maori race on the club. Rotarians, he said, could do a considerable amount of good by interesting themselves in the education and welfare of the Maori youth, particularly by watching for outstanding talent and finding avenues of employment. Mr Truman paid a tribute to the outstanding work being done at Gladstone by Mrs Dodds, and said that much of the pupils’ work would be a credit to any secondary school. In the Wairarapa the department was trying to improve the health and sanitary conditions of the Maoris. About 14 applications for new Maori dwellings had been approved, but although the necessary security had been found in every case, no houses had yet been provided. Some of the applications were approved as far back as 18 months ago. With the winter coming on and with overcrowding in dilapidated buildings the position was becoming serious. He could not ‘understand why the Wairarapa was left out as other districts were getting houses for Maoris. It was realised that the Maoris would have to help themselves. One of the biggest jobs in the Wairarapa, however, was to shift the Natives out of their “don’t care” attitude.