"THE MAORIS"

Evening Post, Volume CXXII, Issue 31, 5 August 1936, Page 17

"THE MAORIS"

UNIVERSITY WOMEN

INTERESTING ADDRESS

Sealed comfortably. In armchairs and sofas arranged 'about a fire in a clubroom in the T. and G. Building, members of the New Zealand Federation of University Women listened last night to 'a most interesting address given 'by Miss Irvine Smith on the subject of the Maori race. She was introduced by the chair woman, .Miss Grieg, who, said how, disappointing it was that • the American .tourists for whom the meeting" had been especially arranged had suddenly had their itinerary ..changed by the Tourist Department and had left that day for the Chateau. Mrs. Grace Morrison Poole, leader of the party from the women's clubs of America, had sent an apology, deeply regretting the unexpected change of nlan.

•Miss Irvine Smith said she thought the American visitors must have noticed a great -similarity- between their country and ours in-that both had such a great variety^ of - scenery which enabled the" inhabitants to 'enjoy such brief respites of thorough change. AsiDr. Peter Buck, "the son of a Maori mother," and one of the world's great est anthropologists, graced the chair in one of the American universities, the speaker said she felt it was especially appropriate,, that she , should have chosen "the learned doctor's race as the subject of the address' she had prepared to deliver-to the visitors. The address, being . hardly suitable, however, for an audience of New Zealanders already well acquainted" with Maori history and character, she had decided not to adhere strictly to it, but to tell them something about the lesser-known aspects of the people. Miss Irvine Smith thereupon imparted to the audience something of her own great enthusiasm as she described the' Maoris' feats of \ navigation, s - 'dignity,' racial pride and mental' aicuteness, manner of living in 'the' early.'* days, high spiritual concepts, ana their art. When talking of the new Museum and Art Gallery Miss Irvine Smith again mentioned Dr. Peter Buck, saying that she thought a niche should'have been made for a'man who deserved so well of New Zealand. 1 <

Much discussion followed Miss Irvine Smith's address. She answered many questions, after which supper, which was very welcome on such' a cold night, was served.