THE MAORI CONGRESS.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 257, 23 July 1908, Page 3

THE MAORI CONGRESS.

IMPRESSIONS OF THE ORIGINATOR. THE BONDS OF COMMON CITIZENSHIP. Approached by a representltivo ' of Tde Dominion for his impressions regarding the Maori Congress, Mr. John Thornton, President of. tho To Auto Association, who was tho originator of the movement, replied that ho thought it was rather early yet to record his impressions clearly. _ Impressions had been crowding in with such rapidity that 0110 had not had timo to arrange them and deposit them ill their respective mental pig-eon-holes. It was easy enough to say tho Congress had been a great success, but all its results could not yet be measured. Ultimately theso would be determined by' tho oxtent to which it influenced the Maori mind and Maori polity. "When I first conceived the idea of a Maori Congress, and set. myself to work to sketch out for it a sphere of action," continued Mr. Thornton, " two aims were uppermost in my min'd. The first was to niako plain to tho peoplo of the Dominion tho fact that tho Maoris—or at any rato a very considerable section of them—had entered upon a period of progress along various industrial and social lines. I ,felt that tho race, as a whole, was suffering greatly from prejudice, misrepresentation, and inaccurato judgments, and that the time seemed opportune for a consolidated race effort to put the Maori right in tho eyes of tho New Zealand public. " The second object was to endeavour ,to bring about a better understanding between the two races. I folt that this could best bo done by bringing tliera into close contact. Such contact, I believed, would lead to mutual respect and appreciation. - "There were other■'objects in view,, of course, objects by no moans unimportant, but theso wore the dominant ideas in my mind at the time. ' " Now tho question'is, can we in any degree, estimate tho • results of the Congress along the two lines I have indicated? Has the Congross, in the first place, mado it clear that tho Maori has entered upon - a poriod of progress? I think we may claim that tho gathering has'dono thisi No one' who has read the newspaper reports of; the proceedings, can have failed to note, for instance, that a ctinsidorable number of Maoris have proved themselves successful sheep-far-mers and successful dairy-farmers. Further, they will liavo' seen that largo numbers of Maoris are. successfully pursuing other industrial occupations. For information oil this point I need only refer to tho facts and figures given by Mr. Ngata, Dr. Pom are,' and others .in their spoeches during tho discussion on tho ' employment' question. Tho Congress Report, when published, will furnish statistics uudor this.head, which will afford additional proof that real progress is being made. The facts of this progress havo been mado known to'.tho peoplo of New Zealand, and thus far, at least, wo may regard' the • Congress as a success. . .

."In tho second place, can we say that the Congress lias brought about a better understanding between tho two races? On this point, too,'l do. not think that any doubt can exist. ■ Tlio Congress has brought tho people of Wellington into contact with tho Maori to an extent that cannot fail to make tho two peoples bottor acquainted. Tlio Maori is not ungrateful, and ho has, I know for a fact,'deeply appreciated-tho generous treatment' ho has recoivcd at tho hands of tho Wellington city folk. Ho has been touched by thoir consideration, their ■ kindness, and their hospitality. Ho has boon treated .as a man and a brother. And. what will pleaso him best of all is the conviction that ho has been taken seriously. Tho Wellington public has realised that ho has a status as n fellow citizen, and that, moreover, ho has a future, and is resolved to work out that futuro to a successful isslio. . It has extended to him its hearty sympathy, and has made him feel that it is prepared to afford him prac-' tical assistance in his strivings aftor a higher life. ' ' \ ' ' "Then, again, ho will tako away with him thoroughly satisfactory. impressions of the treatmont ho has received at the hands of thoso.who are responsible for tlie government of this Dominion. Ho will treasure tho kindly words of welcome and tho wise words of .'counsel given 'him by the Governor. Ho will value tho sympathetic and oncouraging utterances of tho Premier, as well as tlio hospitality of Lady Ward. Ho has listened to tho speeches of tho hdads of Departments, members of . Parliament, and others, and will carefully record them as official utterances. 'Ho has appreciated the , kindly words and bright forecast of tho Chief Justice, who throughout lias manifested a keen interest in tho proceedings of tho Congress. The women of tho race, too, will take away ; with them an affectionate; remembrance of all that tho ladies of Wellington havo. done, and propose doing, on their behalf. Surely all tins will not go for nothing. For many a long day to, como the story of how tho Maoris: wore treated in Wellington will bo told again and again in all parts of tlio country.

"On the other hand, I venture to think that tho people of -Wellington themselves have learned by moans of tho ..Congross to know the Maori better and to appreciate him more highly. , In the Congress Hall, in tho entertainments —which wore a revelation to thousands—in the various meetings,in tho pulpit, and in their own homes, whero. they havo boon dispensing such - generous . hospitality, they must have experienced many pleasant surprises—surprises which havo drawn closer the bonds of'common citizenship, and tended to make them appreciate tho race as they never did before. "And thus I think I have shown that tho Congress has been a succpss. in two important respects. They 'aro tangible results, and can.be confidently reforred to. In another way, too, an important object has been accomplished. . I refer to the question of publicity. The promoters of tho Congress sought publicity, and tho Press has granted it in the most generous fashion. We cannot feel too grateful for the full and accurate reports that have appeared in the newspapers, for the very liberal amount of space accorded,'.'as well qs for the real interest manifested by all concerned in the work."

"But after all," concluded "Mr; Thornton, "what I rely upon most 'aro tho indirect, and intangible results of the Congress in its effects on tilts education of Maori public opinion. You cannot reform a raco from without. Tho desire for reformation must proceed from within. And in this respect ,1 beliove tho Congress will exert a most beneficial effect upon the race as a whole. You may not be able to measure tho results with a foot rule, or weigh them in tliec balanco, but tho influence will be there in the mind of the Maori people all the same, permeating their very natures, refining their ideas, ennobling their aims, and finding at length outward expression in the general uplifting of the race." ' •