MAORI MISSION.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 3 June 1926, Page 9

MAORI MISSION.

WORK OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH

“The 3laoris are a lovable people, innately polite, generous and affectionate,” said Dean. Van Dyk, who has been in charge- of the Catholic Alaori Alission in the Auckland Province for the last thirty years. “One has to study the Alaoris for a generation to get to- know them, and consequently there have been many adverse opinions of them expressed by people whohave come, in touch with them only casually.” “The Alaori is not fond of hard work,” continued the Dean, “although he used to have no objection to his womenfolk doing it. He is physically, of course, quite able to do a hard day’s work, and he does it, but, if left to himself, only spasmodically—that is, when necessity drives him to it. He is not attached to money, hoarding is unknown to him, and if he has money he spends it free-'v. and often wastes it frivolously. “We missionaries try to teach the Maori the habit of labour, of industry, of method. ‘Let the day of to-morrow take care of itself’ is a way of thinking only too common in the Alaorie race. This lack of ambition on his part may be explained by the communal life he used to lead, when ‘mine’ and ‘thine’ were frequency interchangeable terms. We have built what may be considered a model butter factory for the Alaoris in 3Vaihi. the southern point of Lake Taupo. It is worked by water power, and has cost £6OOO. It has* provided the Alaoris with a .stimulus t-o cultivate their lands. Hundreds of acres which hitherto have been lying idle have now been brought into cultivation. It is not yet a payable concern, but it is only in its infancy. I feel absolutely sure it is going to be the salvation of the Alaoris in that district. “3Ve are also building in Takapuna a technical school for Alaori boys, where agriculture and carpentering will be the chief subjects taught. 3Ve have also started co-operative stoi-es to assist the Alaoris in getting their goods at reasonab-’e prices. This branch of our activties has benefited the Natives largely.” The Catholic 31aori Arission in the Auckland province was started in 1838 by Bishop Pompalier, and was brought to a flourishing condition. 3Vars. and especially lack of priests- and funds, brought the Catholic Church amongst the Maoris to a verv low ebb. The Mission was practically re-started in 1886 bv the Fathers of St. Joseph’s Foreign Missionary Society, founded by Father 3 7 aughnn, later Cardinal Arehbishon of Westminster, in Alill Hill (Loudon), in 1866. At present 23 Fdiropean priests are working among the Maoris. —Christchurch Sun.