WORK AMONG MAORIS

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 23880, 24 February 1943, Page 2

WORK AMONG MAORIS

METHODISTS DISCUSS PROBLEMS

“YOUNG GIRLS ARE BEING DEBAUCHED”

Attention to what he termed “an open sore” concerning the moral depravity of young Maori girls at Waim, in the North Island, was drawn by the Rev. J. R. Nelson, the minister in the Paeroa district, at yesterday’s sessvoa of the Methodist Conference in Christchurch. “Young girls are being debauched by men not only old enough to be their fathers but old enough to be their grandfathers,” said Mr Nelson, who attributed part of the. cause of the trouble to liquor. Members were aware of the problem in relation to Maori girls irr Auckland, said Mr Nelson, but it was equally acute in some of the country districts, and he instanced Waihi, and to a lesser degree, Paeroa, It was essential, he continued, that there should be greater supervision in the Maori Mission, ■which sorely lacked workers. £ Mr Nelson also commented upon the difficulties of Maori workers from other tribes coming among people to whom they were not connected. “Old tribal troubles of the past still play, a prominent part in the Maori mind.” he added, “and it seems that many Maoris lack the ability to forget and forgive.” ' ' The Church, said Mr G. Elliott, of Te Kuiti. was “slipping very badly” among the Maoris of the King Country. Three weeks ago, he said, he had seen a party of Maoris and pakehas playing I two-up. and there was no less a sum' than £75 on the ground, whi'e one 1 Maori woman had £l2 in side bets. “Our Church has been beating a retreat in this great area for some years.” he declared, “and conceding this territory, to the Anglican and Roman Catholics, who took no' part there in the pioneering missionary effort." Recruits for Ministry Th: Rev. W. T. Blight, of Feilding, criticised Wesley College, Paerata, for having provided so few recruits for the ministry. Maoris were criticised for not producing leaders,, said the Rev. Eruera Te Tuhi, of the mission, but he asked where they were to be obtained as far as the Church was concerned? Naturally, the Church looked to Paerata. “But though we have had reports of the sheep, cattle, and pedigree pigs on the farm there,” he said, "we have heard little of the college’s spiritual background.” As far as ho was aware i the college in the last 20 years had produced only one Maori minister who was completely fulfilling ministerial work to-day. “Everything humanly possible is being done to persuade young Maoris to enter the work of the Church,” he added, “but you must realise that if you want them you will also have to dip your hands into your pockets and help them financially.” The situation in Auckland, he said, was deplorable, and it hurt and humiliated him to hear such reports of the Maori people. “Complete Stock-taking”

There would be a complete stock-' taking of the Maori situation as far as his Church was concerned, said the general superintendent of the, mission (the Rev. G. I. Laurenson). and a report would be made to the next Conference. “I am aware that there is a problem as far as Maori girls are concerned,’’ he said, "but do not run away with the idea that every Maori girl is a problem and that every pakeha girl is a saint.” Many of the former, he added, were “fine Christian girls.” Some of the problems he associated with racial handicaps. Mr Laurenson denied that there had been a retreat in the King Country. What had taken place was that ministers had been “relocated” closer to the centres of population. Wesley College, had “contributed a very fine type of Maori citizen to the country, even if it had not produced many young Church leaders.”

When appealing for a more sympathetic consideration of Maori problems, the Rev. M. Tauroa, of Taranaki, said that the South Island claims, one of the most outstanding of the Maori grievances, had yet to be settled. “We plead for your co-operation and prayers, and for the sympathy of the Government," he said.