MAORI CONGRESS.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 237, 30 June 1908, Page 4

MAORI CONGRESS.

■ An alteration lias-been, made in,.the, pro--gramme of the Maori Congress, a draft of which was published in The Dominion on Saturday. The second entertainment in'tho. Town Hall to bo given by the Rev. F. Bennett's party has beon postponed from Friday, July 17; to the following evening. At the session of the Congross on Friday evening tho subject for discussion will bo "Tho position of .Maori women, their needs and sphere of work, care of Maori infants, and nursing of the sick." Th'c main problems comprising what may be called the Native question will como under review at tho Congress. Tlio Native land question, which has loomed-very largely, in the public eye tho last two yoars, will be lightlj touched upon'in what tho executive deems to bo its proper place, and will bo discussed from the progressive standpoint of tho Young Maori party, agricultural education, the utilisation of their laijds by tho Maoris themselves, tho, employment of the youth, malo and female of tho race— theso are briefly outlined. The key-noto of tho mooting i 3 sounded here. It is a note that. has been rather notorious by its absenco from the Maori hui and korero of tho usual kind, and marks a groat advance in Maori'opinion. Tho executive is making ovory effort to securo a successful gathering. Representatives will bo presont from all parts of tho North-and South Islands. Tho official conference of tho Maori Councils convened by tho Native Minister will bo attended by over twenty delegates, men of authority in their respective districts, competent ,to speak'not only on tho subjects of direct interest to the conference of Maori Councils, but on'all matters affecting their race. ■

A good deal is ■ heard from time to time of tho efforts made by the various Churches for tho religious welfaro.of tho Maori peoplo. Wellington peoplo will have this opportunity of 'soeing and hearing tho' men who' aro actively engaged jn this,work, and who havo been summoned from all parts of the Dominion to testify to tho made since Marsdcn first preached Christianity in 1814. The mass meeting in the. Town Hall oil Sunday, July 19, the mooting at the Y.M.C.A., and tho addresses from tho various pulpits throughout the city should bring the Christian community into closer touch' with tho spiritual needs of .their, brown brothers and sisters.

Tho cost to the colony in the past and to tho Dominion in the present of civilising the Maori race, through tho potent agency, of education, will be given statistically, and its results, 1 so far as they can bo estimated, in the lifo, habits, etc., of tho Maoris will bp witnessed to by representatives who have benefited by tho Nativo school. system, by secondary and University representatives.