THE MAORI LANGUAGE.

Manawatu Standard, Volume L, Issue 113, 9 April 1930, Page 2

THE MAORI LANGUAGE.

(To the Editor.) Sir, —Evidently' your correspondent “Maori” was charmed with the idea of the suggested class in that language at the Technical School. It is not difficult, however, to detect a keen disappointment in his rambling remarks against anyone daring to question the advantages of such a class. Any individual has a right to his own opinion equally as well as. those who champion any cause, worthy or otherwise. The speeding up ot education in this age ot speed is entirely due. to foreign -competition; that is, an educated worker can produce a greater quantity and quality of goods; hence the establishment of technical 1 schools and kindred institutions. Was the Massey Agricultural College founded for, any other reason than to stimulate more production ? I venture to say that all those pupils wlro have the distinct advantages which those educational institutions afford will be more likely to survive than, say, those who have “acquired a slight knowledge, at least, of a simple and beautiful language” like Maori, as those who know it term it, in this beautiful land of ours. On tho other hand, many parents are compelled reluctantly to deny their children such advantages, hence their seeking permits for their boys to toil in factories under .age, to assist in the daily battle tor bread. Yet, there are some who reckon sordid materialism does not exist. What next will they endeavour to tell us? “Maori,” with cunning, in reply, steps out to decry my objection to the oreation of that particular class by endeavouring to convey the impression to your many readers that my letter of protest was a deliberate tirade of abuse against the Maoris, and incidentally their language. Bupposo that any pupil could speak not “sljghtly” but fluently the language of any of the dead and gone empires, would it assist him to-day should the forces, or circumstances of lite compel him to wield a pick, when probably lie was trained to push a pen? Many who have had elementary, secondary and University education will say no, because they know that that “narrowing lust for gold,” as Tennyson termed it, has, is, and will crush millions. “Material-minded” that is, and must continue to be, under existing conditions, nor can all the “splendours of sunset, dawn, nor babbling brooks, etc,” alter it. How many New Zealanders have actually seen the glories of tlieir own land, anyhow; as regards that, it is mostly foreign tourists who write up their wonderful impressions of this beautiful land of ours. And don’t they just rave over the fishing it affords, which few of the natives can afford. In conclusion, sir, permit mo to inform your correspondent “Maori” that true life should not, be an eternal struggle for place, profits, nor highlypaid positions. Not all his philosophy or native eloquence can alter cold, hard facts; rather that ho and I adopt the eloquence of silence, for “New Zealander” is convinced that no necessity exists, for reasons, stated for creating somewhat late in the day that class.—l am, etc., NEW ZEALANDER.