LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 258, 24 July 1908, Page 3

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.

THE MAORI CONGRESS. Sir—l notice an article written by Mr. Young, which criticises"-'the Maori Congress lately hcld'in Wellington. J may'say right hero that thero is evidence of: surprising ignoranco of tho subject in. point displayed in the article, which is that of another in a dyspeptic trend of thought. If Mr. Young holds a brief in disparagement .of Maori betterment, why then docs ho not hit out straight? Why does he attack'with circumlocutory inuendo. Ido not know Mr. Young personally,, but I do know something of his writings, enough ,to make mo trust that the criticisms, which may be'necessary from time to time on Maoris and their affairs, will fall to an abler pen than his seems to be.

The Maori Congress was in every way a great success. It was representative, hopeful, and active in. its tenses throughout. It was without bias or' sectarian narrowness, and no church or creed of the Maori need have been unrepresented there. The Anglican representative took pride of place, 1 and I honour. the historic" missionary church of this Dominion for doing, so, inasmuch as the truest sense' of reciprocity obtained heartily throughout the whole of tho 'proceedings. Tho ■ organising faculties of Messrs. Ngata and Thornton, together with the help of Revs. Bennett and Chaterton, were most estimable.. The kindness of the Wellingtonians, and their appreciation of the work, was most excellent and praiseworthy. Tho miserable attack upon the Congress by Mr. Young reminds us of tho fact .that a* little knowledge on a big subject may mislead young or old.—l am,, etc , J. E. WARD, Presbyterian Maori Missionary. July 21.

MR. M'LAREN AND THE GOVERNMENT. Sir, —I quite agree with your leader in to-day's issue of your .paper. It is not fair for Mr. M'Laren to try and.shift tho blame oh to'tho Government. Ho did not understand his own boomerang policy, or he would not have agitated in and but of season for preference .to, unionists. I romember him standing beside Tom Mann when tho latter ;vas denouncing non-unionists for not joining tho Union. Anyway, Mr.. M'Laicn is all right, he has a regular, billet.—l am, etc., WHARF WORKER. July 20. '