LEAD DESIRED

Wairarapa Times-Age, 20 July 1940, Page 4

LEAD DESIRED

MAORIS AND WAR EFFORT. SIR A. NGATA'S APPEAL. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. A lead for Maoris who had placed all their resources under the control of the State, and who wished to con- , tribute toward the war effort, was sought by Sir Apirana Ngata (Opposition. Eastern Maori), during the debate on the National Savings Bill. “There are Maori communities that are unhappy because they are unable to make contributions to the war effort,” Sir Apirana said. “They are communities who placed all their resources—their land—under the control of the State.” Sir Apirana said if these people were called on to make a substantial contribution they would have to fall back on the State. They would have to borrow from the Government to lend to the Government, if they wished to contribute, say. £lO.OOO. Most pakehas in like circumstances would go to the bank to borrow, but in these cases the Government was both banker and mortgagee. The Minister of Finance, Mr Nash, said he would be glad to discuss the matter, but suggested that the better procedure would be for the communities mentioned to give £550, the sum they would have to pay on a. loan ot £lO.OOO, instead of borrowing the £ 10,000.