Gisborne

Te Ao Hou, June 1966, Page 47

Gisborne Mrs Sage spoke to members of the Turanganui, Kaiti and Te Hapara branches of the League. She pointed out that the League had been fostered and financed by the Department of Maori Affairs on the understanding that it would eventually become self-supporting. While in its 13 years of existence the League had won considerable status and was recognised by the Government, it was still financially dependent on the support of the Department. Over past years, said Mrs Sage, income from the branches had been low, but so far Mrs E. Taylor and Mrs M. Taylor at the Waitara ‘Maori Council’ conference this year £2,500 from a possible income of £3,000 had been collected. It was hoped that the full amount would be collected to show that members honoured their responsibilities. “The strength of our organisation must come from each one of you,” said Mrs Sage, “and we must work as one big family.” Mrs Sage appealed for an increase in membership and said that from the probable 52,000 Maori women in the country only 3,000 were members of the League. She emphasised that financial independence from the Department of Maori Affairs would not mean an abandoning of the advice and guidance of Departmental officers.