THE MAORI.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 263, 30 July 1908, Page 3

THE MAORI.

Sir,—l have just read with much pleasure Dr. Murray's interesting- letter in reference to a not unimportant feature of our social relations with a nobl'o race who arc to-day consciously or unconsciously, endoavouring to preserve their language traditions and nationality. The rapid spread of Caledonian sociotios, : particularly on the continent of. North'.'America,- furnishes in somo respects an analogous case, an attempt, as many will say, to achievo the impossible. Dr. Newman asks that socially they should bo treated as our equals, and gives'. expression to afeeling of surprise that when Maori ladies and gentlemen visit the Capital, they recoivo little or no hospitality from its citizens.' Why should this be the case? _ In tlio first place no people on earth show a warmer or more generous hospitality to the stranger within '.their gates. With quite a dignified courtesy they will placo before their Pakeha visitor the very best of their humble fare, emphasising their gracious action by giving him a seat of honour apart from the occupants of the whare. From this point of view they well deserve the position requested by Dr. Neivm'an. In tho dignity of their bearing, and amenity to our social customs, they are at least the equals of any peoplo jn New Zealand with whom 'they may'be brought; into contact. I had at one tirno a Maori lady in my employ and a lady visitor born in an aristocratic circle declared that she had all the-grace and dignity of a duchess. I have had many.-Maori shearers, and their delightful bonhomie and lovo of fun introduced for tho timo most pleasant features to our country life. And I have noticed that living largely communisticaljy in their villages they have really few ill-natured quarrels or; disagreement. How under similar conditions would whito men' quarrel and fight. I always in ,my own homo treat them, as equals, and never has malo or female proved in any degreo unworthy of the position in which they were placed. What picturesque features do this race of intrepid navigators and .bold and valiant warriors fling into the national life of the by comparison, staid Anglo-Saxon colonists. And these are tho people whom many unfit to tie their shoe-strings, would treat as the pariahs of Society. If peoplo arc astracised or treated as outcasts they will occupy the position assigned to tlicin. I might add that a few years ago, when visiting Sydney, the Maori football team from To':Auto wero then playing thorn, and I feel sure that very few people in Now Zealand have the faintest conception of tho favourable impression which they made, in New South Wales. I heard it said on nil handsj on tho football ground, and elsewhere, that they, played tho most gentlemanly game over seen in Sydney. I was present at a "social" kindiy given them by a young lady in Manly, and these fine younn: follows of whom I felt quite proud behaved' themselves like highlybred gentlemen. Is such a noble raco not most worthy of tho recognition requested by Dr. Newman? Much more might be said in rofercnco to tho subject, but as I may have already unduly trespassed upon your space, I will conclude with the excuse that my admiration for the Maori people is such that I seized this opportunity to givo it expression in tho interests of the race—l am, etc., It, C. BRUCE. 22.