Ralph Hanan

The reaction of the delegates gathered at Gisborne for the Maori Women's Welfare League Conference was typical of the shock and sadness felt by many New Zealanders when they heard the news of Mr Hanan's sudden death in Australia after attending a meeting of State Attorney-Generals in Brisbane. Business at the League conference was immediately suspended, and delegates stood in silence before paying tribute to their minister. Many women spoke, among them an Invercargill delegate who said that they were doubly sad because Mr Hanan had often asked when the conference would be held in their home town, and he had been particularly pleased that the 1970 conference was to be in Invercargill.

Josaiah Ralph Hanan was born in Invercargill in 1909 and was educated at Southland Boys' High School, Waitaki Boys' High School and Otago University, where he graduated in law. In Invercargill he made a name for himself as an exceptionally able young solicitor. He became an Invercargill City Councillor at the age of 25, and Mayor at 29, but at the outbreak of war a year later, volunteered for Army service and went overseas with one of the first echelons. He served with the 20th Armoured Regiment in the Western Desert, gaining the rank of captain, and was invalided home after being severely wounded at Minquar Quiam.

He won the Invercargill seat for the National Party in 1946, and was Minister of Health, Public Trust, Friendly Societies and Immigration from 1954 to 1957. In 1960 he became Attorney-General, and held the portfolios of Justice, Maori Affairs, and Island Territories, and was Minister in Charge of the Electoral Rolls.

Mr Hanan introduced an amazing amount of law reform, especially in social legislation, and as a result, New Zealand became known throughout the world as a leader in this field. He was responsible for appointing an ombudsman, for setting up the Indecent Publications Tribunal, for licensing reform and the introduction of ten o'clock closing, for the abolition of capital punishment and major reforms in the penal laws. He was against all forms of violent penal retribution for crimes, and introduced weekend detention centres and pre-release hostels. He provided for legal aid for needy persons, for women to sit on juries, and introduced wide-ranging social legislation, including revision of the divorce laws, a new approach to matrimonial property, and a change in the status of illegitimate children.

He believed that all distinction between Maori and Pakeha should be removed and that education was all-important. During his term, the Maori Education Foundation was established, trade training and apprenticeship schemes were begun and expanded, and the Maori pre-school movement was encouraged. The New Zealand Maori Council was also set up during his administration.

As Minister of Maori Affairs, he introduced the Maori Affairs Amendment Bill in 1967, with the purpose of removing many of the restrictions on the use of Maori land, and making Maori owners more responsible for their own affairs.

He will be remembered as an able and humane administrator.