"A DYING RACE."

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 30, 6 February 1939, Page 4

"A DYING RACE."

AUSTRALIAN BLACKS. EVANGELISTS' VISIT. "The aborigines of Australia are a dying race under the present conditions, and it almost seems that tlie authorities are .postponing the problem, believing that in time they .will not have to deal with -it," said- the Rev. J. McWihirter, a visitor from London, who is at present - in Auckland. With his -wife, •Mr. McWhirter, who is an evangelist, travelled 3000 -miles tilyrougih Central Australia, -including 300 miles with a camel patrol; and he lias many tales to tell of-adventure in places where few white men and no white women have set

.McWhirter claims,, after .a study of-i)he-.positiori, : that the- lack-of -proper -planning for the care and preservation of the black race.is a blot on Australia's escutcheon. • .

It is. Mrs. McWhirter .who has made .a'special'study of the problem, however. , "We may be inclined to think it-is only a local question, unimportant because it 'concerns, a disappearing people,", she said, jb'ut Australia's, past and . present''mistakes are 'being used' as . propaganda ■against tlie' British Empire to-day. The •story of; : theo ''destruction' "of the * Tas-

.jnrrniai) natives is being employed to our disadvantage in 'Palestine,; and Germany asking, why Australia,;any;more than. Germany," should have a mandate , in'" view'of its decimation* of;the aborigines."

:;,v .Both ..widely;- travelled,' :Mr; and", Mrs. ; McWhirter _. undertook :-'theirV.tonr of ••■the centre" of Australia as British evangel"ists. After ; yisitirig ; _t]ie;.Hermannsburg •mission.station, 83 miles west of Alice 'Springs,'* arid closely studying the customs and difficulties of the natives they, are ■ firmly * convinced ' that drastic measures must be taken immediately by the Australian Government if this littleconsidered race is to be preserved.

"They intend to investigate native customs in the Auckland Province and in the Rotorua district. Afterwards, before returning to, Australia, they will go to the South Island, Mr. McWhirter desiring to compare the Southern Alps with the-Swiss ,-Alps; with- ; which he is familiar. ' * r • •.... .