NATIVE AFFAIRS COMMISSION

Press, Volume LXX, Issue 21323, 16 November 1934, Page 12

NATIVE AFFAIRS COMMISSION

ATTITUDE OF MAORI LEADERS TKIIH.'TES TO £ll4 APIKANA NGATA Questioned yesterday as to the feeling among the Maori people of the North Island following the publication of the report of the Native Affairs Commission, the Bishop of Aotcaroa, the Rt. Rev. F. A. Bennett, said that as to the substance of the report no criticism had been offered, but that there was a feeling of nervousness in the minds of a large number of Maori leaders as to the future of the native race on the material side. The report was most distasteful to the Maoris as a whole, and there was vi strong feeling against it. But they could see for themselves that it was true, and they had no other course than to accept it, coming as it did from such capable and trustworthy men. "It is realised." said Bishop Bennett, "that notwithstanding the commission's report, Sir Apirana Ngata still holds the confidence of the Maori people, and must be looked to as their natural leader. Whatever maladministration may havetaken place, the Maoris know that there is no greater patriot, or anyone who has worked for his people with more self-sacrifice, than Sir Apirana Ngata. It is felt that he is too good a man to be set aside, and thai some opening should be found where his valuable qualifications as a social leader of tho race as a whole could find due expression." Asked whether the Maoris were unanimous in their attitude to the report of the commission, Bishop Bennett said that it might well be mentioned in that connexion that whereas in the early days it had been very difficult to persuade the several tribes to pull together, it was outstanding evidence of the capable leadership of Sir Apirana Ngata that he had been able to weld the various "hapus," or tribes, into a more or less compact unity. "Sir Apirana Ngata, as a Maori, understands the mentality and psychology of the Maori better than any white man could.'' said the Bishop. "My fear for the future is that with pakeha leaders you may improve the machinery of administration but fail lo touch the real heart of the Maori race. Just as the Church felt some years ago that the time had come for the appointment of a Maori Bishop, since only a Maori could touch the heart of a Maori, so in the work of governing the affairs of the native race I feel that success can be achieved only by Maori leaders."'