“Just One Canoe”

Press, Volume XCV, Issue 28251, 12 April 1957, Page 12

“Just One Canoe”

The conference in Christchurch of the Maori Women’s Welfare League has repeatedly come up against different aspects of the same fundamental question: how far should the Maori people separate themselves from the community of European descent? While this is a vital matter for the Maoris, it has much wider significance, because the answer will help to influence developments in every country confronted by the problems of a multi-racial community. According to the Minister of Maori Affairs (Mr Corbett), some Maoris wish to divide New Zealanders into two people—“to put a fence round “ your own people ”. How many of the special difficulties of the Maoris, such as health, the fact or suspicion of discrimination, employment troubles, and education, are the results of this separatism? These problems would not vanish overnight, but they would certainly become quickly less significant if integration of the races proceeded as quickly in future as it did in the first 100 years. Without this progress the problems will almost certainly become serious enough to constitute a Maori “ question which New Zealanders of all colours are proud to have escaped so far. Pride of race is a fine thing; but it should not be carried to the extreme of dividing a small nation. Maoris should be proud to be New Zealanders, too. Preserve the best in Maori culture by all

means, but as a contribution to a truly New Zealand culture and not as an end in itself.

In spite of occasional instances of discrimination, European New Zealanders as a whole are prepared for the gradual elimination of such distinctions as remain. The future is in the hands of the Maoris, who were properly given special privileges and protection when peace was established in these islands but who should now be readier to stand on their own feet. The need for special native schools is an

anachronism, for instance. Fortunately this is recognised in the Education Department. The common primary school is the true melting-pot. For some time teachers in schools with a high proportion of Maori pupils should be specially chosen; but in all other respects these schools should be fitted into the ordinary pattern as quickly as possible. The time must almost have arrived, also, for Maoris to ask for the ending of their special Parliamentary representation, which is really an affront to their citizenship and a constitutional weakness. If the Maori people move towards closer integration other New Zealanders should meet them halfway. But the need is for Maori leaders who will take the initiative. If the league encourages the emergence of these leaders it will be helping forward the day when, as the president (Mrs W. Cooper) said, “there will be just one “canoe”.