MAORI PROBLEM

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 305, 24 November 1937, Page 2

MAORI PROBLEM

“AT A CRITICAL STAGE.” UNDERSTANDING NEEDED. Per Press Association. CHRISTCHURCH, Nov. 23. “There is a widespread belief that in New Zealand the native problem lias been handled more fairly and more justly than anywhere else in the world. 1 regret to say that tha.t claim' is rather legendary. The problem is just about the same everywhere and there are many variations of the tragic mess that so often from the contact of whites on natives.” „ These words were part of an address on the Maori people given to the Christchurch Rotary Club by Professor I. L. G. Sutherland, professor of philosophy at Canterbury University College. Professor Sutherland said that the Maori problem in the Dominion was at a critical stage. The Maori race had undergone a renaissance after many dire prophecies that it would die out, and it was essential that the new hope given the Maoris bv such policies as the Ngata scheme should be fulfilled.

The Maori population in New Zealand was rapidlv increasing until now it was between 85,000 and 90,000 and, in spite of a death rate among Maoris nearly twice as high as the European rate, the native race was increasing at a much faster rate than the white. A need for a fuller understanding between the two races, European and Maori, existed at the present moment. Goodwill toward the Maori had. been expressed for years and the present Government, in proclaiming its goodwill, was making many promises of its intentions to assist the Maori race. To Sir Apirana Ngata more than any other man went the credit for what had been done in the past 25 years. That vast experiment, the Ngata scheme, had achieved a great success, that’of placing Maoris as farmers on their own lands. Some 10,000 Maoris bad thus been placed in settlement schemes in the North Island. Extraordinary progress had been made and the scheme was now justifying itself economically. Some years ago irregularities had been found in. administration and a Royal Commission had been set up and, las a result of its recommendations. Sir Apirana ha.d resigned. Nevertheless, the speaker knew of no other native poliev in the world constructed in such difficulties and worked for so untiringly which had achieved the success of Sir Apirana Ngata’s. The Government was at present developing the Ngata scheme. The progress of the Maori people depended on the development of their own individuality and Maori leaders realised the need for this. One thing was certain, if the present movement was not fulfilled and the new hope of the Maoris; was lost, then the Natives would surely revenge themselves, not bv active reprisals nor by tlieir extinction, but by becoming a pauper race dependent on the whites who had been responsible for their state. -