TE PUEA HERANGI.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 32, 8 February 1939, Page 10

TE PUEA HERANGI.

OUTSTANDING CHARACTER. (By ERIC RAMSDEN, Past President of the Anthropological Society, X.S.W., Sydney.) Aβ a Xew Zealander and an ex-Aucklander and one interested particularly in the .welfare of the Maori people, on travelling- through Xew Zealand after an absence of some yeare, I have been impressed by many factors. One is the appalling ignorance of many of the European people residing in the immediate vicinity of Maori settlements. The pakeha people, I am convinced, are not deliberately unkind; indeed, many of them are genuinely interested. Yet for some reason or other they are unable to penetrate beneath the' brown skin of our Maori people. The policy of successive Governments in placing Maoris on show on important occasions hae, I believe, given our people a tendency to regard them en masse as a picturesque part of the landscape. One of the most pleasing developments in recent years, to my mind, however, has been a more sympathetic attitude on the part of the Press, particularly the "Auckland Star," in regard to Maori problems. If there is ignorance on the pakeha side, also doe« it exist *mong the Maoris. To bridge that mental gulf which undoubtedly exists in many directions will necessitate careful and sympathetic treatment by both races if the young Maori people are to perform a useful function in Xew Zealand society. Much Maori Petty Crime.

One is amazed at the amount of petty crime among the Maoris. One scarcely opens a newspaper without discovering reports of such cases—many of them trivial and obviously due to lack of diecipline at the most critical period of life. A more rigorous eyetem of control and direction of the adolescent mind miifit he exercised between that period when the Maori boy and girl leaves echool—often far too early—and the time when they reach years of discretion. Otherwise what appears to me to be a disastrous wastage of good human material will continue. The Maori race is increasing, and places muet be found in the economic life of our country for these young people. In order to take their rightful place in national life, economically and socially, they must be trained and guided,

One wonders, too, whether 2few Zealandere have accurately panged the place that ifl occupied in Maori life to-day by that really remarkable woman, Princess Te Puea Herangi. Some years ago I arranged for an American journalist, the representative of a Chicago journal that has a world-wide reputation, to visit her. Thie is what he wrote to me later: "On meeting her I at once realised that I was in the presence of greatness." .He wrote Reveral column* about her, and the work to which ehe hae dedicated her life. Xew Zealanders, I am eure, do not realise the enormous difficulties she has BUrinounted, and the difficulties she is now facing. Te Puea's place in New Zealand history ie .already defined. Paeans of praise when she passes to Te Reinga. though appropriate, of course, will not benefit her. What she wants now is sympathy and understanding. Xot eo long ago she aeked for wme clothing for the men working on the canoes now being constructed for the Centennial celebrations. In return she received some second-hand garments. Her first impulse was to return them; but she accepted them.

Men Working for a Pittance. These men are working for a mere pittahce. At the prevailing labour rates they could obtain good wages etaewhere. Further, they work from morning until dark, and again in the evening, at the carvings. This ie done because of their, reepect for her, and because she has given her word that the canoes will be finished at a certain date. When these men were working among the snow at Taupo last winter she asked the Government for a, ehed to shelter them. That request, I am told, wae refused. But for Te rtiea*e personal influence these canoee would flever have been built. To re-eetablieh the mana of Waikato—and, in the main, ehe has succeeded to a truly remarkable degree—is her aim, and no one ie more loyal to her leader, King Korokf.

Her outlook traverses tribal boundaries. I consider her the outstanding -woman of her age in New Zealand, Maori or pakeha. A little more understanding en the part of our people, and a greater realisation of her force 5n Maori life, might do much to smooth her way. Te Puea'e health ie not good, and tße problems she hae etill to face might well dauht a person of less force of character. For herself she asks nothing. The welfare of hef people, and particularly their adjustment to changing social conditions, are the aims that animate her. From our King ehe has received recognition.

Whether we like it or not, the Maori people must play a part in our national life, and most people recognise that fact. A time of trial and difficulty is coming wheh the influence ot such leaders as Te Puea will be of incalculable benefit to the State.