LABOUR PROSELYTISERS.

Waikato Times, Volume 119, Issue 19903, 4 June 1936, Page 11

LABOUR PROSELYTISERS.

’ ACTIVITIES AMONG MAORIS. ‘ ALLEGATIONS AT EHUI. l SIR APIRANA NGA‘TA‘S COMMENT. United Press Assn—Elem Tel. Copvrlrht. GISBORNE, Wednesday. Allegations that the .\laoris of the East Coast have been approached by political proselytisers on behalf of the Labour Party were made at a Hui at ’l‘ikitiki. It was asserted that Maorls from the south had passed from settlement to settlement stating that it was necessenr for natives to Join the Labour Party it' they wished to enjoy the benefits of Labour administration, and that “those who were not members of the party would be passed over in the distribution of the advantages which would become available. Sir Apirana Ngata, when the allegations were referred to him, declared it was impossible such statements were being; made with the authority of the tim‘ernment and said he was certain that. when the matter was brought to the notice of the Prime Minister he would take steps to stop what had been going on. ‘lt was possible. he added. that the zeal of these political missionaries might have an ulterior motive. It was recognised, of course. that .\iaori workers were well advised to join unions but it was quite another thing to suggest that they could not obtain the benefits without. joining the Labour party. " , U

ml;Tzirgrem-éh‘thering of Maori elders warmly supported the views express—ed by Sir Apiranga.

A RIDIOULOUS REPORT. COMMENT BY PRIME MINISTER. tux ’i'eanurnmu.——l’resn Auot‘m'lnnJ \V'ELLING‘TON, \Vednesday. “The thing: is ridiculous," said the ltight lion. M. J. Savage, the Prime Minister, commenting on a Gishorne message regarding the proseiytising of Mum-is. “Our job is to deal sym—pathetically \viirh the native race. It, is not a question of politics or whether they are members of the Labour PartyAnyone who spreads talk of that kind is not helping the Labour Party ex—cept, hetptng to bring; it into disreputei “ When we make it a condition that thcy have to join the Labour Party- he—foro thoy ran get anything in the way of redress for their grievances, \\'n \\ili he showing ourselves as untitled fur the position we 'ocrupy.” Mr Savage nddoct: “The Maoris asked for equal treatment with the pukehn and would get it. That, means Hwy will have to join the unions and help to earn the benefits unionism brings. That has nothing to (to with the Labour Party. which is a political organisations. mud they can Jioin if they want to. When EL Maori makes an application for any job, however, he \\'ili be judged on his qualifications, not on his politics."