NEW ZEALAND TALES

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22551, 5 November 1938, Page 20

NEW ZEALAND TALES

Brown Man's Burden. By Roderick Finlayson. The Unicorn Press. 86 pp. (5/- net.> Mr Finlavson's tales have not quite enough point to be good short stories, but two, "The Wedding Gift" and "The Totara Tree," are very good. In all other respects his work is admirable and few sketches of contemporary Maori life present so truthful and vivid a picture of native character and ways. Mr Fin-^ layson has made plain the exaltation and depression of Maori character, the relics of superstition, the gaiety, the idleness of the men that sometimes leads to dissipation or crime, and the loneliness of the women that makes so many mothers and girls sad and bitter. These tales are far« from sentimental; they are sternly real, especially real in the representation of the young Maori in contact with European culture. Without ever preaching. Mr Finlaysor has told the white New Zealander how far he is from comprehending and treating rightly the Maori people. Patronage and sympathy are not enough. "Identity with the soil, the pride and birthright of the native," iis to be encouraged. Otherwise "our scientific barbarism" will complete the annihilation of a culture. To comment thus seriously on Mr Finlayson's tales is justified; but many readers may neglect the lesson and be much pleased by the humour and interest of his characters.