THE MAORI.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 177, 21 April 1908, Page 8

THE MAORI.

HIS TREATMENT AND ITS RESULTS,

WHAT IS NOW NEEDED,

(IS? C. A. YOUXG.) who aro acquainted with' the East and West Coasts cannot fail to bo much impressed with the difference in the character and social status of the Natives on those coasts. On the East Coast the Maori is a -merry, even rollick yip; tellow; industrious, happy, r'i content; well clotlicd, and i l ' 6 i r atec ' - H° is ori good terms with Jus pakeha neighbours, and, although lie drinks as most Maoris. do—he is . not -tho degraded being one sees jn other parts of the North Island.', His besetting sins are horse-racing, billiards, and.an "inordinate indulgence m cigarettes. There is a general " r .prosperity about him, which suggests tnat his circumstances are happier and more satisfactory than aro the circumstances"* of a other parts. On the West Coast, especially in tho Tara r naki iTovinco in the neighbourhoods of Waitara, Parihaka, Hawera, and Waitotara. the Maori is degenerating day by day. In appearance ho is poor, mean,-and miserable'; there is a depressed and sulky air about linn, as if he were hopeless and careless' affairs, generally, and lie is' illiterate and ignorant of everything happening in the world around. He is looked upon with eontempt by. his pakeha neighbours ias an idle, lazy. vagabond, whose personal " and moral habits are unspeakable. As a consequence, lie is only welcomed at the whisky bars, which abound in the province, and tolerated a t the various shops when ho has any money to spend. The pakeha avoids employing him as much as possible, even in road making, and to see a Maori a member of a volunteer corps, or ~a female servant in . a household in iaranaki, would be a wonder. , Knowing the feelings entertained towards him, it would-be strange indeed if the Maori .aid not reciprocate. 1 He produces .little to benefit the community, keeps but a few sheep, 'and tries to emulate his white rival in dairying industry, but Ins efforts are feeble' and perfunctory."

The Prosperous East Coast Maori. Let us consider the possible causes of this difference. From the earliest times settlemeiit on the East Coast has progressed with Uttle. or-, no/- tho. trouble with lo Kooti did not impede it—and the conduct\of the settlers ,to the Natives .has generally been just and humane. consequontly, Native land lias been acquired for settlement without much trouble or difficulty. 1 o'ssibly marriages between rangatjra of both races.assisted iiy smoothing away..difficulties; . A potent influence for good was the continuation of the missionary influence in the persons of 'the Williams ."family,■ and espe- : y. has the influence of the late revered Archdeacon of the name been profound. To Aute Native College, endowed by. tho Maoris, but founded and supported , by. him, lias betin a great influence for good, as also have'the other Native schools of Te Itau, at.Gisborno, and .tho Hukarere School for, Maori 'Girls at

Napier. 1 . . . ; • These private schools .have' educated Natives, who, after qualifying at the-University,-now adorn the professions of the Church, the law, medicine, and the Civil Service; and girls from liukarere school are being trained as nurses, aa postal,' telegraph, .and typewriting clerks, and are'entering freely' into domestic service. -.- ,• ■ These influences are gradually vpenetrating the prejudices of . tho Maori, -weaning liira his old habits arid customs,'. and persuading him to adopt the, manners and customs of the pakeha. • .. . '. prom, these private-Native schools also lias arisen' ) what is • known ds •'' !The ■ Young; Maori Party, which is endeavouring, • through the ;medium, of,a newspaper printed in the-vo'r-nneular, -by- oxample,' and tho diffusion of general knowledge at public meetings;'to.persuacio .their fellow countrymen-elsewhere to adopt, the. ways of'the pakeha.v ';V;| V-iV'-v ■ Government Native,, schools aro numerous oii _tho East Coast, arid'the more intelligent and capable of the .'children, from those are forwarded to the private schools. ' -.', - " " ; \Nor must wo, forget ..the. fact .that,.two Natives of tho East Coast have', through a long period of years, been'members of Parlia;nent, ono of these being the all-poWerful Minister for Native Affairs. • v ; , .■ • . ■ These influences are stimulating the Maoris of tho_East Coast to ekort themselves and tako their places witli their pakeha neighbours in developing tho- natural wealth of the Dominion. Many .of them are large sheep farmers; >;r.t Mohaka and 'Niihaka> Mroris run /creameries' and butter factoriesentirely by .their own efforts, and recently tho N<*atipoi'ou between Tokoinaru and East Cape have themselves laid down.over 150 miles of wife, .connecting all their farms and sheep stations by telephone. • ■ : ■' The Maoris on the East Coast are .more numerous than in any-/othbr Maori district; they feel moro assured in tho possession of then- land'; they aro judicially .assisted financially by. private individuals,- and—their selfrespect and native dignity restbrod—have taken up the burden to be' found learning agriculture oh'the State :model farms lads from'. Te Aute : College are evennow at tho Momohaki State* Farm on tlio nest Coast—they are-to -be found serving in the' local defonce forces, on farms, are expert sheep-shearers, take', contracts': for bush felling l and land clearing,-fencing.-,arid road-making, and -thero are cases where, conscious of their own igiioraiico and desiring knowledge of agriculture, • thov have leased their lands 'to pakehas; with tlm'-rfiwii-' lation'that they themselves are omnlbyed £o do the work thereon.;-And, lastly, the system' of farming' their, lands ori 'the co-operative principle is. being tried by them; ' ' ' v' / Unhappy Position on tho West CoastLet us contrast this state''of comparative prosperity and advancement, with the. unnappy causes which have retarded the civilisation. of the Maorhon the AYcst Coast.- . From the earliest time; of-tlio. admit of tlio: pakeha unhappy relations have existed between the -two races over tho possession ot land.. The companies which undertook; to colonise tho West Coast disposed of land: in tho colony, to intending: settlers before' thoy had acquired any land, to dispose, of. The early immigrants- were, herded: in baracans on the shore' near Port. Nicholson,, while tlio agents of -these companies-. possessed tliemSelves of-'Native lands, upon whioh the -immigrants were ultimately - settled,,. But' the Maoris, while wishful and-willing-to welcome the pakeha among..them,..resented and repudiated the unjust and iniquitous manner.-in which their lands were -being- acquired, | ana as: time wont ori closed their hearts against the pakeha,. and refused to dispose of more, of their, lands for .'further settlement.'-. This : engendered a. feeling of sullen resentment in the heart of the pakeha. settler,- who, so far as he himself was concerned, had obtained his land<by honest and bona, fide means. , - And so through the years- this - feeling of. resentment grew and intensified, until .it explpded in the aggressive and unjust acquisition of the Ngatiawa's-land at Waitara. This crime was perpetrated by a- weak and facjle Governor, and. instigated by tho then Parliamentary representative of Taranaki, who, was at'tho time all-powerful in the Government of tho Colony. And so, in 1860,, a calamitous war blazed forth,. whieli ruined the efforts of twenty years of peaceful settlement, retarded the development of this part of the Colony, and.left behind a bitter and angry feeling between tho peoples concerned, which, on the part of tho pakeha, has since been exercised in an oppressive .and aggressive acquisition of moro and more of tho Natives' land, and on the part of >tlio Maori in a sullen feeling of resentment and despai'

Restitution Necessary, It is. with 110 desire to perpetuate suoli . feelings that tJho present writer, recalls those historic facts, but absolutely in the ivish and hope that tho moro genorous and conciliating state of feeling which is now slowly evolving may be quickened into a.more.just and generous appreciation of the responsibilities of the dominant race. Restitution to some oxteait must bo made, and further iniquitous acquisition of Native land stopped, if justice is to be dono; and without justice what is the boasted Christian religion, and the Christian's civilisation P ' ' Against the racial antipathy or animosity thus engendered efforts to educate the Maori on the West Coast have so far been supine £orfuiict>QG\ in the. .faoa ..of. ihq fiulljx

discontent of. .tho Native,- Government and private benefieenco has dried up.' There is but ono Government Native School on the long West Coast "from Uremii to Waitotara, and blip only private school, the- Wangan-ui College. ; ■ .

Untler Parihaka influence tho Maoris would not sond their children' to' 'thofGovernmeiit Board schools, and they', conceived.' tho" impression, that their children were not welcome at. tho: :Wanganui College, although 'they knew this college was endowed, for'the education of. both "races. The ministers of the various religious bodies have niadfl' little or .110 impression c-n tho Maoris on this Const—at ;my rate, they hiivo little or nothing to show foi'Mt., Except Turakina—a Native school for girls.instituted by tho Presbyterians three yea^s-ago—there is not one mission or other private school on tlio whole .West Coast.

.' It is said that some agroemcnt'exists between tho different religious sects, under which. the West Coast, including. Earihafcr,. is' ministered to by the- Weslnyan Mission Church. If such an understanding exists, tho state of. morals and education which up to the present'time has been permitted to exist' among the. Maoris, of this coast reflects severely upon, the various religious, dominations-. I ''' Proper Education Wanted, r .

But before all and above all, is not the Government responsible for thij education of every child born in the Dominion? Has (not the . Legislature'provided- laws for tho compulsory .education, of the children of both races? Why, therefore, in tho name of humanity are not these kiws enforced ?• Here on this West (Coast we havo another generation growing up to perpetuate 'the- racial animosities which have, unfortunately, existed .too long, and this for want of tilie most civilising of all influences, namely education..- .

What is to be the future condition, of the Maori peoplo if the State- continue thi3 shameful and discreditable «neglect of: their education? Surely, tlio result must bo a degraded and pauperised peoplo, amongst whom offences agam-st the law of the land will becomo 1 common. ' ■ .

The writer docs not advo'cato rcamixMianco. of, Native schools —which only tond further. to segregate the .Maori—the dual system of oducation should-bo'abolished— not only because it is an',, unnecessary/, expense upon the" State, but bccauss. it really clofeats tho. object and purpose of , the Government system ' of Nativo education, which .is. , to. Europeanise, tho Maori in one generation; but if i.the State will not provide Nativo schools on the "West Coast, the law should bo enforced to compel the Maori children to attend the Board schools' which, are; nearest ,to . their kaingas. ■' >> .

Now that the two_ so-called seers .of 'Pari-' •haka ihaye gone . to. join .the'- shades .of .thenancestors, £ind_hive so falsified their, oWn' predictions, jyould it not' bo a wise . provision ,to establish' a 'school..'at j'Parihaka,;- and ; if,''ai technical school and model.'farm';w-ero,. attached something would ;be ,done, to atone foi; the .neglect", of the past.,. ■, 'As the Natives so detest;arid distrust the: system of . administration ;.of •'.lSnds.i.by the Public.. Trustee, that.rofEcial' might .. give proof that some £ood. can..cqmo out of : Egypt by ,taking this . suggestion, into' serious .consideration bbforo hanging over..the. Paribaka block to, pakeha occupation'. j'i > ..." . It must bo said, here that the .Natives have, ever given''freely' of their/lands, for /the ,endowment of schools"for ;th'cir ,children,' but;' sad to add,' with such ox'coptions as Te Aut<j, To.-Ban, and' Hukarere, .on the East: Coast,' St.' John's. College,' St.' Stephen's, th-ei ;Yic-, toria,Valid tho Three Kings, -in- Auckland, and tho AYanganui''Colleges,. their, confidence in ibhp. pakeha : has; been,, nusplac'eil,'. and'' eri- ; doivments . have been '. misappropriate*! .. aid misipplied. - "".r . „ <V Simple Justice Wantod. ( <■ "Sir J. G. Gorst,- m l -".The-Maori'King;',' saysßefore., ISGO - .thoro' wore."numerous villago schools' fouiid'ed: and (riiaiiag&d' by! tho Natives .themselves.' If/w-e had:educatedr,th<s ;Natives in . civilisation /and 1 fitted" thcni ! for the cnjoymenV'of: those,full .rights,-as-British' subjects,- whicli the Treaty ,'of vWSitarigi priv : niised;, .nothing '.-' would...have . 'been ( c ,heard, of • ' land leaguers ' and tho. | King,Movomon.ti ; Sir \V: Martin's'noblb.words.'off "Tho';Taft-! naki.' Question " may : J . fitly:', coliclude •. this .article :-r".'WWt is noedid. 'for '.the' goverii'.'merit ■ of' tho' -Nefr Zealander's' is justice— wo' deal, witfoVthe. .Natives 'as -our fellow-subjects and -f ellow-mcri-. ■ -If• we really' desire tb;..benefit. them^■■'we''.shall;have'iittle. difficulty! in. .governing ■ But- men' mil : never govern- well, those''whom l they despise/ ■If-wo are .'oui'solves sufficiently civilised'arid: ' Christianised to act in this. spiritj the great work may still'be accomplished;''- 'Oiir'success in civilising this peoplq will jb'o. 'tbe < truest test, the'most correct-measure; of the civilisation to which wo have ourselves attained."'-