The Press THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 1959. The Future of the Maori

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 29002, 17 September 1959, Page 14

The Press THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 1959. The Future of the Maori

The sharp difference of opinion between Mr Rolland O’Regan and Mr Ralph Love raises afresh the question of the future of the Maori section of the New

Zealand people. “ It is my “earnest wish that from the “societies called into being by “ this rather small and “ ephemeral issue will emerge “ a permanent, strong national “ society dedicated to the task “ of total integration of Maori “ and European New Zealanders “ into one people ”, Mr O'Regan is reported (by the “Evening Post”) to have told a conference in Wellington. Mi Love’s hope, equally earnest no doubt, is that the Maori should retain his “ advantageous rights “ and privileges and not all “ the accompanying respons- “ ibilities Mr O’Regan is right, of course. But can he persuade the Maoris to forego their special protection or other Europeans to see that the occasion for it is passing? If the present attitude of paternalism persists we shall indeed have the brown proletariat of which visiting sociologists have warned us, and probably a sullen one. The future of the Maori depends on his ability to stand on his own feet. He has remained a distinct kind of citizen largely because the European conscience was disturbed by the effects on him of European colonisation. He has now had five generations in which to accustom himself to a new way of life, a long time for such a singularly adaptable race. It should not be forgotten that in the same period the European settler

himself has had to make considerable adjustments to modern living. At their present separate rates of progress the gap between Maori and European will widen. Plainly the Maori still needs sympathetic guidance; but the emphasis should be on encouraging him to think of himself as a New Zealander and not as an object of special consideration.

If Mr O’Regan wishes to make a start on integration he should attack the prime symbol of separateness—separate Parliamentary representation. The Maori would lose nothing by going into the same polling booth as other electors and exercising his substantial political influence in the ordinary way. Even under the present system a great Maori, Sir James Carroll, represented a European electorate. How many more might have done so if special representation had not continued long after the need for it? The ability to meet the, European on common ground was the path of advancement along which the Maori was once led by such great figures as Carroll, Ngata, Buck, and Pomare. Why have the Maoris ceased to produce or ceased to follow such leaders? Is it that they have been led to rely, and have become contented to rely, on special treatment? Ultimately, that is a question? that neither Mr O’Regan nor any European can answer. It is for the Maoris to say whether they will seek the reality of common citizenship or pursue the illusion that some can be more equal than others.