ORAKEI MAORIS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 160, 9 July 1935, Page 6

ORAKEI MAORIS.

Why is it that the pakeha residents of Orakei wish to have tlio Maoris of that district chased away from their homes? Are there not enough recreation grounds around Auckland that these buyers of expensive sections can go to without coveting the small piece of ground upon which the few remaining Maoris of the Tamaki isthmus have their kainga? Perhaps it is because they imagine that their living at Orakei may possibly associate that fact with their living with the Maoris in the minds of other people. One "Orakei Resident" speaks of the undesirahility of Maori and pakeha associating together at the same school. Perhaps that 7s so. Without hesitation I say that any doubtful characteristics of the Maori have been acquired since the advent of the pakeha. On the other hand., it would do many a pakeha good to associate a little more 'with the Maori and copy some of his good points—his unselfishness and hospitality. It has been said of the Maori that those who know him best like him best. Nothing better which speaks for the characteristics of a race could be said of any people. Let us consider the .Maori. If lie is happy to stay where he is, let him stay, and instead of compensating him for the loss of his land and shifting him to Mangere, as some suggest, let the Government compensate those pakehas who <lo not wish to live side by side with the Maoris ami shift then: to Point Chevalier, To the .Maori race I say "JSia ora, tonu koutou katoa." PAXGI-TE-AQ-RIPJ.