THE NATIVE RACES.

Auckland Star, Volume LIV, Issue 50, 28 February 1923, Page 5

THE NATIVE RACES.

RESEARCH CO-OPERATION. TRIBUTE TO NEW ZEALAND. VISITING ETHNOLOGIST. "Without question, in the study of ancient? lore of the natives better work has been done in New Zealand than in any other part of the Pacific.'' is the opinion of Dr. Edward S. Handy. 8.A., M.A.. Ph.D.. ethnologist of the'Bernice Pauahi Bishop Museum of Honolulu, who arrived at Auckland to-day by the Xavua. Dr. Handy, who was a member of the special expedition sent out by the Bishop Museum to Tahiti and Marquesas Islands in 1920-21. is en route to Tahiti again to continue his research into the customs and history of the people. He is accompanied by Mrs. Handy, who is also a member of the Museum staff, and is known as the associate in PoUnesian Folk ways. REASON FOR ACTIVITY. "There is need for some haste in studying out the native problem of these Islands,"' said Dr. Handy, "because there is a danger of the older natives who can valuably assist disappearing altogether, and that is particularly so in the Marquesas Islands where conditions, as far as native life is concerned, are very bad. We must pet in quickly ami secure all possible information about the ancient culture and life."' He added that, for the purpose of carrying out the scientific investigation relating to these Pacific races, the Bishop Museum was co-operating with students in NewZealand, and the field was split up. New Zealand scientists were handling the New Zealand portion and that of Rarotonga. "The study of all these islands to scientists represents one big problem," said Dr. Handy, "because it is felt that they are one people of similar origin. We are leaving the British section to British people to co-operate. and we arc looking after the northern and eastern portion of the field. Some very fine work has been done in connection with Maori lore by such well-known men as Percy Smith. Edward Tregear, Elsdon Best and Colonel Gudgeon, and among>t the more modern scientists Dr. P. IT. Buck and Professor Skinner (who. I understand, has recently written a fine unpublished treatise o:." the "Moriori") have contributed much valued assistance. And. of course, the Polynesian Society has given a wonderful load in the matter for which it deserves high praise."

AIM OF BISHOP MUSEUM. It was the aim of the Bishop Museum, which lias become very active in research during the last " few years, to make itself the channel for tlie publication of all available accurate information regarding Polynesian peoples and their natural history. In doing this it was co-operating to the fullest extent with all local scientific societies and educational institutions.

"We aspire to substituting the accumulation of reliable collected data for the vague theorising which has been the source of more confusion than light in much of the research prosecuted in ethnological work during the earlier phase of research," concluded the visitor who hopes, during a brief stay iv the Dominion, to visit Rotorua district and see some points of ethnological and scenic interest.

Prom Ins recent observations in Tonga, I-iji and Samoa, he holds that ___.*■ r_" to J* the least s P oilt °f o native nd % 8 ° far as the Privation oi native customs goes.