NATIVE MEETING HOUSES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 10 August 1939, Page 6

NATIVE MEETING HOUSES

PROPOSALS FOR RENOVATION. SUPPORT BY LOCAL BODIES. All the tribes of the Wairarapa are trying to do something to collect money towards renovating the meeting house at Papawai,” said Mr G. Te Whaiti, of Greytown, speaking ai a meeting of the Wairarapa District Zone Committee yesterday. "So far they have collected £3OO in cash for Papawai," He added that assistance had been obtained from the Government by way of labour, and they were getting a certain amount of support from local people. If they get support from all local bodies he thought the money aimed at would be assured. Mr T. Jordan: "I think there is some obligation on us to do something to help the natives as far as we can. 1 don’t say we can do it as municipalities, but we can do something as individuals.” Mr A. Campbell Pearce: “What is the amount aimed at?” Mr Te Whaiti: "£lOOO for Papawai.” Mr R. E. Gordon Lee: “Are the two meeting house committees working in conjunction or separately?” Mr Te Whaiti said the aim was to work as one. He understood that quite a lot of money had been raised also for the Te Ore Ore meeting house. Mr Jordan said he considered that after the natives had made an effort to raise the funds required, backed by the local bodies of the district, they should go to the Government for assistance, and he was sure no Government would turn them down