The Hawera Star. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 1935. THE MAORI SITUATION.

Hawera Star, Volume LIV, 14 September 1935, Page 4

The Hawera Star.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 1935. THE MAORI SITUATION.

Deliver, J . every ev.CJrue Wr “ “” Hawera, Manaia, liaapokonui, Oeo, Pihama, Opunake. Eltham, * » Mangatoki, Kaponga, Awatuna. Ie Km, Mahoe, Lowgarth, Manutahi, mea, Alton. Hurleyville. Patea, Whenua Waverley, Mokoia, Whakamarn Ohangai. Meremere. Fraser Road and Ararata.

Yesterday we wrote on the need for recognition of the fact that a ‘‘native problem” does indeed exist in New Zealand. Mr. L. A. Taylor’s letter, which appears on this page to-day, reveals how great is that need. Our correspondent is not alone in, thinking that the Maori is spoon-fed and, that he would be the better for the adoption of a good deal more “rugged individualism.” Nor is he alone in his opinion that, pleas for sympathetic attempts to come to an understanding of the native mind are “stuff and nonsense.” Our correspondent’s contribution to the discussion on the Maori situation is important because it reveals in such an unmistakeable manner the truth of our assertion that the greatest tragedy of the Maori problem is that a large section of the European community —probably a majority;—does not realise that a problem exists. Our correspondent refers to the “never-ending cry of the Maori for more money” and points out, to the disadvantage of the Maori, the different spirit showed by the Scottish crofters when they were dispossessed of their lands. Mr. Taylor makes no allowances for the differences in the backgrounds of the two peoples. He overlooks the fact that the Maori race is separated by less than a century from the Stone Age and cannibalism—that they are people of the Pacific, of Polynesian ancestry, whereas his Scottish crofters of 1810 were modern products of an old European civilisation. If the analogy were worth following further, one might refer to the “rugged individualism” of the Maoris who came to this country by canoe in 1350 —no European country has a finer tradition of courageous enterprise. But, more good will be done if we adhere to the position as it exists to-day. There is need for a great deal of enlightenment of the European mind, as .well as of the Maori mind, before we can make an approach to the real problem, which is how to induce the Maori to make the best use of European civilisation. This is a formidable task, as only those who have some understanding of the Maori mind realise; but its difficulties arc increased a thousandfold by the closed minds and the lack of sympathy of a section of the European community. It is not enough to utter pious platitudes about the “noble traditions of our brownskinned brother” if we are to go on ignoring those traditions and to continue judging him, not on his own history, temperament and customs, but on our own. A complete reply to the contentions advanced by our correspondent, would call for the writing of a book, which is not our task. But we hope to be able to find an opportunity in the near future to give, in another part of the paper, a little more detailed examination of the points raised in Mr. Taylor’s letter.