SOME WARRIORS.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 90, 18 April 1927, Page 6

SOME WARRIORS.

Last year an Italian writer. Arnnldo Cipolla, had a run through Xew Zealand, and amassed much information, which he used in exceedingly complimentary articles about the Dominion in "La Stampa,' 'of Turin. One of these articles, translated, recently ap|>oared in a Xew York magazine under the bending, "The Happiness Factory.' , Many nice things are said about us, with here and there a tincture of mildly cynical criticism. As an example: "Like all happy countries, their (the Xew Zealunders') spiritual life is a trifle monotonous.', Signor Cipolla \va« greatly attracted by the Maoris, and he gives them credit for almost >uperhiiman heroism. An Englishman used to lx> considered equal to three French soldiers and ever so many other varieties of "furriners." . Our Italian friend sets the Maori warrior on an oven loftier pedestal, as thus: "In seizing Xew Zealand. Creat Britain lost fifteen thousand soldiers, though the forces of the Maoris, armed only with old-fashioned wooden weapons, did not exceed two thousand. When peace finally came, the conquerors found they had a deep respect for the conquered." We should think so, if each Maori warrior's share was seven and a-half British soldiers, as per Cipolla! The marvel is \hat Xew Zealand wa.s ever '"conquered!" It is always a pity to spoil a charming story, but figures invite investigation. So, ju?t bv war of footnote, it might be mentioned that the casualties of the British and coloninl troops in the Maori Wars, 1843-1871, totalled 5(50 killed and 1050 wounded. So say the ofticial records. But that is strictly between ourselves. Our Maori fellow-countrymen's mana stands so high with "La Stampa" that it would be a shame to demolish any of the interestinp facts scooped up by Signor Cipolla on his Xew Zealand flight. TAXGIWAf.