MAORI PICNICS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1100, 12 April 1911, Page 6

MAORI PICNICS.

THE OTHER SIDE OF THE PICTURE (By TeleEraith.-Soecial Correspondent.) Wanganui, April 11.

In view of a recent question, attributed to the Hon. James Carroll, "Why shouldn't a Maori have his picnics the same as the pakeha?" the following letter from a correspondent of the 'Vtjerald" is interesting, and needs no comment :—

"The Hon. Mr. Carroll, Acting-Prinie Minister, is still in sympathy with Maori meetings, or as chooses to term them 'picnics.' Now, _ sir, as Native Minister, is it just that ho should countenance such, and uphold what is nothing more' or less than ruin and waste, and which ends in starvation, probably for months, to those who take a leading part in providing such feasts?"

Tho writer goes on to refer to a picnic given by certain Natives some , time ago, and proceeds: "They built for the occasion a dining-house about 70ft. long, store-rooms, cookhouse, shop for distributing meat, together with the purchase of £46 worth of crockery. Were you there, Mr. Carroll? You missed a 'picnic' if you were not, although I- knowas a rule you enjoy these little 'picnics.' For six months previous to the gathering, it was impossible to purchase pig or cow from within twenty miles of the picnic ground. No, these pigs were for the meeting. The meeting came off—a great success as your paper told us. The Europeans were treated in kingly style. What was tho outcome.P I had occasion to pay t. visit to the p.i about last June. A great change had taken place. There were very few men at tho kainga, but there were- a lot of halfstarved women and children. Scarcely any notatoes were to be had, and there was no firewood, for there were no men In sledge it. You will perhaps wonder whore the men were. Why in AVancjantii spending what little they had left on beer, and sending an occasional bag of flour to their families left at home to drag through tho winter as best they could. 1 have seen a fire lighted and half a dozen shivering little children trying to gain a little warmth therefrom. This is the general result of n Maori meetine;. The Maoris will stay a." long as the tucker lasts, in some ca.sos weeks, leaving their own home." and oven leaving their crops to rot. 1 speak from what I know of tho Maori and testify what 1 have seen. I will meet any man on tho. public ulatform and prove what I say or give £20 to the hospital. These entertainments spell ruin, starvation, and misery to all concerned""