THE MAORI RACE. IMPROVED CONDITIONS NECESSARY.

Evening Post, Volume LXIX, Issue 57, 9 March 1905, Page 6

THE MAORI RACE. IMPROVED CONDITIONS NECESSARY.

[lit TRLEORAI'H— I'MUS ABROCIATIOM.] WANGANUI, Bth March. In reforcneo to tho nlleged decline 1 of the Maori nice, nnd tho steps suggesteel to bo taken to improve their condition, a statement hits been mndo by Mr.' C. \V. Ornre, teacher at tho Pomonnn School. This school is ono of tho most biiecossful institutions in tho colony, and in connection with it tho Government over twelve months ago started n village scheme, which it is now threatened to drop. / The natives have sent a patholto letter to the Premier, nppenlinfj to him to continue the scheme, Buying : — "Wo uro dying fnst, nnd want you to show ns how to live nnel work. s6 thnt wo inny not nil ko down to tho grave." Mr. Qrnco says the proportion of deaths among natives, tvnu thoir suddenness, are appalling. Often only one or two in n family of ten children survive. Nothing elso enn bo expected, says Mr. Grace, so' long a 8 newly-born infants nro allowed to brealho tho poisonout atmosphere of wharcpunis void of ventilation nnd reeking with tobacoo smoke. Largo numbers of infants, ho doclares, are annually taken away from their mothers, nnd adopted by women who aro ignorant of tho need of cleanliness ot food ami surroundings. Mr. Grace snys had a portion of tho money devoted to education been spoilt on bringing the natives out of their pas, ami getting them lo house, themselves in well- ventilated dwelling)}, to attend to cleanliness, and lo bu constant and intelligent toilers, more real good work would have been done. The in ml is tho place for Ihe Maori, nnd intelligent activity, wholesome surroundings, and the ever present knowledge v thnt lie is subject to law that, can rench anel striko him, aic factors that ill ono will save him from rusting out