THE MAORI RACE

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 149, 23 March 1928, Page 13

THE MAORI RACE

ARE THEY DECREASING IN NUMBERS? QUESTION OF SCIENTIFIC GENEALOGY RISK OF EXTINCTION DISAPPEARING "The pure-blooded Maori race is increasing.” This casual remark, officially made during a discussion on New Zealand affairs generally, led to a special inquiry by a “Dominion” representative into the subject and to the unfolding of information of a particularly interesting character only now made public.

It is worthy of note that even in the early ’forties attempts were made to estimate the number of the Maori population, but these figures varied widely. The revered Missioner, Rev. Williams, placed the figure at 200,000, but the estimate of Governor Grey in 1849 was 120,000, while another estimate four . years later which .was placed on record was 60,000. The first official census of Maoris was taken in 1857, the figures returned being 56,049. No other census was then taken until 1874, when the figures fell to 45,470. From that time a census of the Maori population has been taken with the European census. The lowest figure recorded was 419,854 in 1896, but there has been an increase each census since then except in 1916, when there was a decrease of 68, due to the number on active service, the number of Maori deaths in the war running eventually well into four figures. Though not generally known, the epidemic of 1918 created havoc in the Maori race, for while over 5000 Europeans were victims, the Maori deaths in that terrible period were ap-

proximately 2500, a heavy toll in proportion to the population. While the • figures, with the one exception, have increased, there has been a good deal of intermingling with Europeans. Differentiation. A great deal more care is being exercised in the Government Statistician’s Department in regard to the Maori population, hence the reason why the compilation of the Maori statistics for 1926 is not yet quite complete, the European population figures taking precedence. The census taken by the Colonial Government in 1906 was 47,731, in 1911 it was 49,841, in 1916 there was the slight decrease to 49,776, the 1921 figures were 52,751 (including 4236 MaoriEuropean > half-castes living as Maoris), while the 1926 census shows a Maori population. In the 1921 census the half-castes living as Maoris were counted as Maoris, and those living as Europeans were counted as Europeans. In the last census a departure from, this method was made, for the return above given includes all Maori half-castes or more than half-castes; all below Maori half-caste are classed as Europeans. It is the compilation of the particulars regarding the number of half and three-quarter-caste Maoris which is now approaching completion. Large Percentage of Mixed Blood. Tn a special report made by Dr. Suck, then Director of the Division of Maori Hygiene, he said: ‘‘At the present time, there is in the accredited Maori population, a larger percentage with mixed blood than we are apt to think.” Mr. A. L. Menzies, late of Auckland, who was recently transferred to Wellington, when the head office of the Department was moved to Wellington, and who, bom amongst the Maoris fifty years ago, has studied the race for thirty years past, states, in support of Dr. Buck’s remarks, that in 1919 a body, of 850 men of a Maori battalion were examined, of whom 48 per cent, had white blood. In 1922 an examination was made of 4500 children in 94 Native schools, and it was found that 50.1 per cent, had white blood, and the remainder were pure-blooded Maoris. He expressed the opinion, which was supported by other Officials, that no really exact figures can be arrived at until the entire population has been subjected to a scientific examination according to genealogical method. The question interesting the highest authorities on the Maori people and Maori lore is whether the full-blooded Natives are reproducing at a rate which will make up for wastage from their ranks by death and inter-marriage. To keep up their numbers they must, of course, marry full-blooded Maoris themselves. An extract from the report of Dr. Buck—already referred to —says: “Every full-blooded Maori who marries anyone not a full-blood like himself is deliberately stepping outside the confines of the full-bloods.” Health and Education. Mr. Menzies described how the North and South Islands were divided into Maori districts, twenty in the north, four in the south. Each district has a Maori Council of seven, and every village has its committee of three to five members, who report to the council. Under the direction of the Division of Maori Hygiene these bodies supervise their own interests regarding health and moral affairs. This supervision from the Health Department, education, and administration generally, has done much to improve the health and conditions of the Natives, and such work as is being done bv the Native Land Court in dividing up Maori lands so that each Native has his own section, on which he and his family live apart from others, instead of living together in the old Native fashion, is furthering this good work. Weight for Age. In recent years investigations regarding the Natives have produced several interesting facts, and it is worth placing on record that in an examination of Native school' children made as far back as 1908, a comparison was made between the weights of Maori and European children. This examination revealed that, age for age, the Maoris were the heavier children. At the age of 15 years the Maori was 141 b. the heavier. The Native children were living on two meals a day—the usual Native allowance—while the white children were from King’s College. 1 lie extra weight was not due to extra nourishment, but to racial characteristics. A gratifving feature is the percentage increase of the Maori population under 15 years of age, which, said Mr. Menzies', in 1891 was 34.1 per cent, of the total, but had steadily increased to <0.75 per cent, in 1956. Proportion of Sexes. Scientific research has brought other facts to light in regard to the proportion of the sexes. In 1891 the number of females per 1000 males was 832; the number of females since then has increased to 890 per 1000 males in 1921 and 909 in 1926. . Further statistics gathered by the Division of Maori Hygiene from Native schools give the proportion of females as still further increased Of 4500 Native school children

the proportion of females to 1000 males was 926. This was in 1925. As this forms some indication of the race of the near future, the risk of extinction by the excessive preponderance of males seems to be disappearing. It is a scientific principle that where males preponderate it spells race extinction. Another aspect of the subject is the dilution of the race, and Dr. Buck says: “Though the total population according to the census returns has been increasing, it -does not follow that the Maori race will continue to exist as a distinct full-blooded race, lhe greater and increasing European population is rendering the Maoris sparser and sparser in the total population of the country. In 1891 there were 14.9 Europeans to one Maori. This has actually increased in 1926 to 21.3 Europeans to one Maori. This increasing external dilution must prove a factor in affecting the distinctive culture of the Maori, and with better education and improving material conditions lead to internal dilution through inter-marriage.” Births and Deaths. A system of registration has been in force since 1912, but it is somewhat doubtful if the figures can be accepted as reliable. The returns made by the Registrar, however, have been compared with returns and other information secured through the Maori village committees and councils and other channels by Mr. A. L'. Menzies for the Department of Hygiene, so that the following figures for the last six tears may be accepted as being as nearly accurate as it is possible to get them

The increase in the births recorded in 1925 is probably due more to late registration than to any sudden accession to the annual number of births occurring. From figures supplied, the infantile mortality rate for the 1921-26 period was 131 per 1000 births, as compared with 15 per 1000 among European infants in the Dominion.

Births. Deaths. Rate Rate per per Year. No. 1000. No. 1000. 1921 .. ... 1056 18.7 842 14.5 192-2 ... ... 1142 21.7 913 15.7 1923 ... ... 1181 19.8 762 12.8 1924 ... ... 1246 20.4 773 12.7 1925 ... ... 1716 27.5 818 13,1 1926 ... ... 1593 25.0 902 14.2