G—9

The advice given by the Welfare Officers is intended to help the Maori people to realize and face tip to their obligations and responsibilities as citizens. It is the intention of the Act to make the Maori self-reliant rather than dependent upon others for assistance. Meetings, 3,002 cases (1,774) Meetings fall under two headings—Executive and Committee, and others. At the Executive and Committee meetings problems which exist are discussed, and means of overcoming them are sought. Under the other headings in this part of the report frequent reference to Tribal Executives and Committees is made ; this indicates the scope of their work and the purpose of the meetings. Tribal Committee meetings are a meeting of the people in the locality, and anybody may speak 011 a motion or voice -an opinion, but only the Committee members are entitled to a vote. Maori Welfare Officers are encouraged to attend all these meetings as here they make many contacts. Meetings of the Red Cross, Women's Institute, Borstal Association, Crippled Children's Society, County Rates Committee, and other bodies are also attended. Moral Welfare, 760 cases (329) Supervision of moral welfare is necessary mainly in the cities and sea ports, where more opportunities for delinquency exist, and Welfare Officers are tactful in their approach to this problem, which causes them much concern. Miscellaneous, 18,905 cases (7,813) This group covers all cases not specified under definite headings, and they are as complicated as they are varied. Cases of sickness, absenteeism from work, deaths and burials, affiliation, crippled children, and missing persons are brought to the notice of and inquired into by Welfare Officers. Rail, motor, and steamer bookings are frequently arranged for the travelling Maori public. Police and Court Proceedings, 766 cases (648) Not all the cases under this heading are Court prosecutions, as very close liaison is maintained with the Police Department, and Welfare Officers are often asked to trace members of the Maori race who are wanted for health, maintenance, and other reasons. -Considerable publicity has been given to the incidence of crime among the Maori race, the " drift" to the cities being blamed. However, the experience in Wellington is a decrease in the number of Maori people appearing before Court. This has been commented upon by the Probation Officers as well as the Maori Welfare Officers. The number of distinct Maori prisoners received under sentence during the years 1939-1948 was as follows : —■ 1939 .. .. 310 1944 .. .. 553 1940 .. .. 330 1945 ~ .. 430 1941 .. .. 346 1946 .. .. 422 1942 .. .. 450 1947 .. .. 446 . 1943 .. .. 523 1948 .. .. 347 An observation by one Probation Officer was that most of the Maori people appearing before Court were charged with offences caused through the effects of liquor, but since the Licensing Amendment Act, 1948, these offences had dropped considerably. He added that the position, as he saw it, was general throughout New Zealand. In Houhora, North Auckland, the periodic sitting of the Magistrate's Court has been cancelled due to lack of offenders. The Magistrate commented that the Tribal Committees are quite capable of dealing with any offences that may occur. Tribal

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