THE MAORI RACE. WHAT OF HiS FUTURE?

Evening Post, Volume LXXIV, Issue 26, 30 July 1907, Page 2

THE MAORI RACE. WHAT OF HiS FUTURE?

THE WHITE MAN'S BURDEN. SOME INTERESTING REFLECTIONS. Apart from its value a 6 a clear and succinct statement of opinion as to the way in which the land of the Maori should be utilised to tho best advantage of both himself and the European, the report of the Native Land Commission contains a considerable quantity of matter which is valuable alike to the philanthropist who seeks the preservation of tho race and the practical political or theoretical investigator who is anxious to arrive at a reasonable solution of a problem which has puzzled public men of New Zealand ever since public men had any part in framing the policy of tho country. Many speeches have been made on the subject and many articles written, and in view of the fact taat tho commission speaks quickly on the heels of its close investigation, tho following extracts from its general report will be found to furnish an interesting explanation in part of the general policy enunciated in its recommendation. The value of the extract is increased by the fact that one of tho commissioners is tho Chief Justice, whose knowledge of the Maori is generally recognised, and the other is Mr. Ngata, M.H.R. , M.A., whose interest in the future of his race ia only equalled by his enthusiasm and opergy in seeking thoir welfare by practical measures and the assistance of good counsel and infectious energy. WORTH SAVING. "Tho Maori race is, in our opinion" (says the commissioners), in a most difficult and critical position. There is great pressure- from European settlers to obtain possession of their lands. Crown lands suitable for settlement are lunitod in area, while large trActs of ilaori land are lying unused. The position of tho Maori people deserves careful and immediate consideration. There are many of the tribes and hapus in what v.c might term a decadent state. They havo lost, the habits of industry of lhair ancestors, and they have not a'cqiured the habits of tho European in this rospoct, and they are looking to the future with no hope. ''Tho raco in many partG of the colony has. declined, and seems vital in only a few parts. What is to become of the Maori people? Is the race to pass away entirely? They are .1 people able physically and intellectually. tt'e have been amazed, in meeting somo of the chiefs who have appeared before us, at their intellectual vigour. We doubt if among unoducated Europeans who have had no greater advantages than tjjo Maoris thore couM be pioduced the'samo percentage of men of alert intelligence. If also it is considered that half a century ago the roco were living as cannibals, the iminenso development of tho Maori P'jcplt; must surprise overv nne. The race is worth saving, ana iho burden and duty of preserving tho rare rests with the people of New Zealand. "Tho Maoris, believe, can not only bo prcservud, but also become acthe, energetic, thrifty, industrious citizens. Tli is ia not a matter of speculation We h-ive yoin ft in some instances. On the oast coisfc cf the North Island , theie are indusliiouti Mimi comtmmiUes just, as, well-b:-h.ivi>d end iuat r\s jntlustriovs en ]• vi o;-? an settlers. > Ye sec in the Thermal Springs district -Maoris acing ps gardcmjis, as hvboxu'ers, and m<u hanks, dcinj work as woll as Europeans, and they have been doing suth v.ork for yours And whore opportunities h?vo boon . given to Maoris , to obE.ain fho higher education 'th'cy have ' acquitted thcmsolvca well. ' , A I'AEAMOUNT CONSIDERATION, <>' "Viewed from tin 3 standpoint the ns.'-ti\e-'lund question tit the present juncture cannot be dissociated and cons:cW~ O'.l apart from theVwsl'-nein-j of Jho Maori y>ooplc. fit 'is not' for us to staff, but indications »H point \<>- Iho concins en that for- good or ill the .text few yorus will decide the futur6 of tho ir.co, when the Legislature has determined not only how its surplus lands thall }>o-dis-posed of, but how tho reserves, shall bo aotured against further eneroaebmeat, and utilised in a manner above the'reproach of thouC who do not appreciate all tho difficulties tho Maori iias to face in following in ..he v;ako of a raiudlyadvancing civilisation. . "To our minds, what is now the paramount consideration— what should be placed before nil others when tho relative values of tho many elements that ontcr into the native-land problem ■ are weighed — is Lho encouragement and training of tho Maoris to become industrious settlors. The statute book may ba searched in vain for any scheme, deliberately aimed in this direction, 'lho Legislature has always stopped slum, whoa it had outlined a scheme or method of acquiring Maori lands or rendering such available in different ways for European sottlcmcnt. The necessity of assisting the Maori to settle his own lands was never properly recognised. It was assumed that because ho was tho owner according to custom and usage, and because tho law had affirmed his light of ownership, he was «t once in a position to use tho land. 110 was expected to do so, and to near the burdens and responsibilities incident to tho ownership of land. Because he has ftdlod to fultil expectations and to bear his proportion of local and general taxation no )s not doomed worthy to own any lnnd except the vague unde'finod area that should bo reserved for hia 'use and occupation.' But the causes' that havo conspired to tho failure, have net been invostigatod with a virw to remedial measures. And where in spite of supietyie difficulties tho Maori has succeeded in making good use of his land the fact is not sufficiently recognised. Tho spectkelo is presented* to us of a people starving in the midst of plenty. If it is difficult for the European settler to acquire Alaori land owing to complications of title it is more difficult for tho individual Maori owner to acquire his own land, be ho over so ambitious and capable of using it. Ilia onergy is dissipated in tho Land Courts in a protracted strugglq, first, to ' <?stublish his own right to it, and, secondly, to detach himself from the numerous other owners to whom he is genealogically bound in the titlp. And when ho has succeeded ho is handicapped by want of capital, by lack of training — ho is under the bftn as ono of a spendthrift, easy-going, improvident pcopfo. . . In dealing, thoroforo, with the lands now remaining to the Maori pooplo, wo are of opinion that tho settlement of the Maoris should be the first consideration. And it is bccauso we recognise the impossibility of doing so on a comprehensive scale by tho ordinary method uf partition and individuolisation that we recommend the intervention of a body, such as the Maori Land Board, to be armed with powers sufficiently elastic to meet tho exigencies of the situation."