THE MAORIS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 72, 25 March 1936, Page 6

THE MAORIS.

LORD BLEDISLOE TALKS TO LONDON.

(From a Correspondent.)

LONDON, February 29.

Yesterday at the Royal Society of Arts (Dominion Section) Lorcl Blcdisloe rca a paper on the Maoris. There were few New Zealanders among the audience; most presen were English. After having tea we wen upstairs to the society's lecture hall, wit l its decorative frieze, and were struck the contrast between the symbolic f gnies decorating the walk and the enlarged and coloured photographs of Maoris and - life, which Lord Bledisloe had placed on el^ ,e side of the roetruni. Not only were theic a dozen of these to give visual support to -om Bledisloe's tribute to this magnificent liatne race, but he also showed a number ot laiiU.iii slides to emphasise his statements. And as if this were not enough, Lord Bledisloe ia procured a gramophone, on winch sevcia records of Maoris singing their native songs were turned, on at appropriate times. Lord Elibank, who is going to New Zealand later in the year to attend a conference of chambers of commerce, presided. It was soon evident to this English audience that Lord Bledisloe lias an intense admiration lor the Maori race, and is not too happy about their future prospects. He was quite candi in his criticism of the unwise, if not unjust, interpretation of the Treaty of Waitangi y the pakelia. He did not dwell too much on their early history, briefly sketched some ot their customs and characteristics, but nios of his time was devoted to the recen endeavour to establish the Maoris on the land as farmers. Ho also gave great praise to the efforts of Sir Apirana Ngata, and stressed the difficulties in trying to establish a native race iu modern industry carried on in a modern manner. There were psychological differences between the pakelia and Maori, and he deploiea the necessity for having to check the progress being made. It was a sincere and earnest appeal to the people of this country to try and understand the problems of one of the King's Dominions beyond the seas. It was not a colour problem in tlio ordinary sense, as they are experiencing them in other colonies and possessions. But vast differences did exist, and he was deeply concerned lest a right solution might not be found until too late to save this fine race. He deprecated attempts to turn the Maori into a European, to change his way of life to Western ways. He wanted to see the best of the Maori tradition preserved in this remnant of a great native race, and it was towards' this end that ho hoped future measures would lead. Candid Speech. Sir James Parr, who spoke briefly afterwards, did not entirely agree with Lord Bledisloe. Ho claimed that tho relations between Maori and pakeha were happier than between any other native race and the British settlers. And from his own experience as Minister of Education he drew a picture of backblock schools, where the Maori child learnt quicker than the small pakeha. But 011 many points Sir James was in perfect accord with Lord Blcdisloe.

The Maori has been linked with the climate, the scenery, fishing and hot springs as one of the tourist attractions of New Zealand. Lord Bledisloe criticised this attitude, and hoped it would cease.

It is not often that someone, whose authority and sincerity is unquestioned and who libs had ample opportunity of seeing conditions and estimating relative measures and tho administration which implements these measures, speaks so candidly. The Maoris are too often shown as line specimens of Polynesian race, a picturesque adjunct to the Dominion, and are not visualised, here at all events, .as a group of human beings with an economic and cultural problem; a future to be provided for, and often a subject with a just grievance to be redressed. It was in this light that Lord Bledisloe dealt with the Maori, and what lie said left a deep impression.