THE MAORI SITUATION

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 213, 9 September 1935, Page 6

THE MAORI SITUATION

A CRITICAL SURVEY. ATTITUDE TO NATIVE RACES. (By J.C.) Dr. I. L. G. Sutherland, lecturer in philosophy at Victoria University College, Wellington, is one of the younger school of students of Maori life, and he has for several years devoted much time to observation of the native people and their adaptation of European civilisation to their own needs. He has written and lectured en the subject, and his keen insight into the conditions under which many sections of the Maori race live to-day has prompted him to write a book designed to help in a more general understanding of a complex human situation. This little book ("The Maori Situation," published by Harry H. Tombs,' Ltd., Wellington) is a concise statement of the economic and social position of the raw to-day; it is greatly sympathetic with the aspirations of the Maori leaders, and it is in particular a well-reasoned (and well-grounded) defence of the aims and methods of Sir Apirana Ngata, the ex-Minister of Native Affairs, in his efforts for the rehabilitation of the race. Dr. Sutherland appears to be better acquainted with Sir Apirana'a country, the Ngatiporou tribal territory, on the East Coast, than with other native districts, and lie turns his visits there to good account in his narrative of the successful working out of Ngata'a plans for the development of farming among his people, followed by a back-to-thc-land campaign among other tribes. New Attitude to Native Races. The historical survey of the relations of the Maori with the pakeha which precedes this portion of the book is a thoughtful and accurate presentation of the facts. The Maori was dispossessed, all but destroyed. The break-up of Maori economy, without any adequate substitute, ruined the race. It remained for modern leaders, such men as Hone Heke, Sir Maui Pemare and Sir Apirana Ngata, to kindle the saving fire of a new life. All that is familiar history; it is the survey of what has been done by Ngata and his people and his far-seeing supporters in other tribes that constitutes the chief value of the book. Undoubtedly Sir Apirana Ngata is the one outstanding figure in Maori nationalism to-day. JHs treatment by the Native Affairs Commission is strongly criticised on many loints, and Dr. Sutherland observes that '"more ntuition and a less prosecuting tone in the eport of the commission" would have done nuch to conserve the great constructive clTort of the Minister, the splendid human enterprise conceived and carried out in the face of great difficulties. Ulie author, in commending the efforts made by fiir Apirana Ngata and other Maori leaders to establish their people permanently on the land, points out that in other countries there is evidence of a r eversal of the mistaken attempt to Europeanise and Americanise native peoples. The United States of America has recently made a radical change in its Indian policy. "After more than half a century of deliberately planned effort to turn the Indian into a white man, the fundamental error of the policy has been realised by contemplating its miserable product, neither Indian nor American, and a vigorous campaign is now to be undertaken to restore him. so far as possible, to his status as a 'good Indian.' Central in this new scheme is a reform in the Indian land policy designed to give the Indians a secure economic development on the land." The Maori Commune.

Dr. Sutherland challenges the adverse view expressed by the recent commission on Native Affairs regarding the "communal elements" encouraged and advocated by the Maori loaders, including- the manners and customs of the race which they desired to keep, the influence of chiefs, and the political and social life centred in meetinghouse and niarae. The commissioners were of opinion that the communal elements would hinder the development of "good farming." The author is strongly critical of this pakeha attitude. It may well he that the Maori mode and standard of" livingan<l the outlook of the Maori on life will never be the same as the pakeha. "but does this greatly matter? Xeed the Maori be imbued us we are with the paramount importance of tho economic factor in life?" The author asserts that it is the destruction of their own social institutions in general which destroyed Maori character with its once strong habits of industry. Xow it is being reintegrated partly in terms of Maori forms of life, partly in terms of European forms. "And what becomes of the Commission's argument," the author asks, "when it is realised that Ngatiporou, -who show markedly a communal and tribal spirit and display those very customs referred to, are the most successful Maori farmers?" Maoris cannot be t>rowii-skiuned Europeans; the social forms and customs of old are vitally necessaTy to their spiritual existence. Native Institutions. Thi.<? broad and enlightened attitude towards the old and cherished life, customs and institutions of the Maori has often been advocated on this jingo of the "Star." The Maori ways indispensable to the life and happiness of the race should be encouraged; and it is unwarranted presumption to dictate how the people shall manage their social affairs and their ancient institutions. The principle of non-interference with the social ways of a race might well be extended to such a "place as Samoa, where white officials have been guilty of serious and injurious blunders in their efforts to impose English ways on the people and to destroy the ancient patriarchal chieftainships. It is a fatal mistake to imagine, as so many well-meaning officials do, that European culture must necessarily improve a race. Many real problems complicate tho administration of Maori affa-irs and tho efforts at rehabilitation. Some are psychological; old injustices still rankle. Dr. Sutherland correctly gauges the situation when he says that "no European administration, however willing and understanding, has made or could ever make more than a limited success of this Department." Their Mother Tongue. Language, too. .is a most vital subject for consideration. The Maori tongue should have more attention in the native schools. Dr.' Sutherland states that a now curriculum for native schools aims at relative instruction to the, practical needs of the people, and so far so good, but at goes only part of the way. Nirtive school teachers should be equipped by an intensive study, of Maori life; if possible they should know tho Maori language. In native schools the Maori language liould be a compulsory subject; the race should be bi-lingual. an ideal that could >e realised without effort if the schools wore rightly staffed. One has known of schools where the teacher forbade the children to .speak Maori oven in tho playground. That kind of teacher should not be employed in any school. Fortunately there is hope for a more intelligent conception of the educational needs of the native race. A few days ago the Hon. S. Gt. Smith. Minister; of Education, when visiting- a South Island Maori school, addressed the* children in Maori, and at his request the replies were also made in Maori. Then the children entertained the Minister by singing Maori songs. This bodes well for tlie future; it certainly is a pleasure to know that at Last there is a Minister of Education who has taken tho trouble to learn Maori and who endeavours to encourage in the young people of the race a pride in their ancient tongue.