MAORI HOUSING

Waikato Times, Volume 122, Issue 20505, 23 May 1938, Page 8

MAORI HOUSING

HAWKE’S BAY REVELATIONB BURDENS ON HOSPITAL BOARD (Special to Times) HASTINGS, Sunday “Liquor, motor-cars and picture shows are taking the money of the Maoris, and they are depending on the board for necessities,” said Mr A. B. Williams at a meeting of the Waiapu Hospital Board. He added that unless something was done to improve the housing and health conditions among the Maoris the board and contributing bodies would become bankrupt. The housing conditions of the Maoris were also adversely criticised and the opinion was expressed that the Government should not spend from £4OO to £SOO on individual houses when so many did not have a single room which provided good accommodation. The case was quoted of a Maori man and woman with eight children living in a single-roomed hut at Ruatoria. The dwelling was without windows and had an earth floor. It was further stated that there were cases of families With 10 children living on £2 or £3 a month. It was decided that the secretary should accompany a deputation from the Waiapu County Council to Wellington to represent the position of the hoard's district, with a view to securing a special grant to ease the burden on ratepayers arising from the living conditions and general Indigence of the Maoris.