THE MAORIS' FUTURE

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIX, Issue 197, 18 August 1908, Page 7

THE MAORIS' FUTURE

&DVICE FROM THE CHIEF JUSTICE. (By Telegraph.— O-n-n Correspondent.) THAMES. Monday. Tt is wpII known that Sir Robert ■ Stout. Cl ii< f .luslii-o, uud lieud of tho Alaori Lain! (.'oiumission, now witting at Thames, teki'a ;. r ro:it interest in tho "Maori.- present i-rmdition and future prospect?. i'ln'R-fore, it was not surprisinff that his Honor took advantage of t!ir presence nf a number of Maoris at ■ a sitt'ng of the Native Land Commission '" delivpr ;i littlo homily on the | duty they o\vil to themselves and their j raff , . "I.Pt mi- {rive you ihi* ad\ic-p," ] said Robert, inipreasively; "if you •want to improve your condition, if yo>i •n-aut to takr> your proper place in Utis Dominion, you niu.-t lead an industrious outdoor life. You must give up drinkinc. Your ;_-irls must (jive up smoking. It i> no use to Ui!k of bpinp landless ;m<l i Smnoverishod if you endanger your position and liealtli by indlilpenep in stronj; drink. As to smoking, by young women, how ran they expect d> bear healthy children, if they continue to smoke? f mention thofse points Lγcause I want to sec th<> race preserved. T want to sec you improve your condition, and become industrious settlers on the land. Thirty years ago [ was associated witli ;: native chief, ami I grew to respect him liishly. and love his people. 1 hop:' tlie Thames natives \rill not die out. hut hv leading healthy, industrious lives, will become an active — and intelligent race." At this some of the elder natives nodded approving!v. Some uttered "hoar, ' hear." . His Honor proceeded—"Nov. if you Trant to preserve and elevate your Tace. you will have to refrain from takinff liquor, and your tjirls will have in jrivp up smokinp: you will not I>p hWp to improve your financial and social conditions tinlnss you do these thing?. T hope and tnist Uiat when vre :n 'ct fit Te Arnha we will decide on such linr-s as will prove beneficial to the natives. (Hpar, hear.) T also hope that you will endeavour to follow the lines suggested by mc. Tarn confident that if this were done, the Maoris would be a much more prosperous and contented race than they are to-day."