MAORI KINDNESS.

Northern Advocate, 13 July 1925, Page 8

MAORI KINDNESS.

(To the Editor.; •Sir, —I was pleased to see Mr. H. N. M ;-Millan's letter in defence of the Maoris. "Riverside Resident's" and

•'Progress's" .letters to any one with iijie feelings are offensive and insulting. Both omitted to sign their names; no doubt they were frightened that some dark night they might get a''thrashing' from'some dusky Native: A Jew years .ago I travelled a good deal in New Zealand and came in touch with the Maoris quite a lot. Many a happy hour I spent at the Pa Putiki (over the Wanganui River), and when I think of all the kindnesses and the wonderful hospitality I received at the hands, of the Natives there, I burn ,with shame to think that any of my own race eould have put pen to paper to write so insultingly of a people who are so big-hearted and kind as the Maoris have proved themselves to be. I remember staying at the Pipiriki Hotel, on the Wanganui River, a few days before Christmas. I made friends with some Natives, who made my stay very pleasant, telling me many interesting stories of the old days on the river and wonderful legends of their race. I was invited to a christening and was very amused and flattered to find the young mother had named her child after me; the amusing part was the child was a male. The next day I received the kindest invitation it was ever my lot to receive, couched in that beautiful childlike language so peculiar to the Maoris. It was to share, their Christmas dinner. When war broke out I was living near a Maori camp. Dozens of the boys used to come down to listen to my gramophone and many. a cup of hot coffee I gave them. Many :of these boys are filling soldiers' ;graves far from the land they loved. We Britishers owe a great debt we can never repay to those lads who so nobly answered Britain's call. God has made of one blood all nations, although Kipling says, ''Never the twain shall meet." The least we can do for them is to let them build a hostel right on the shore of the water they love and let it be in memory of the sons they mourn, and let the Native never lose sight of this fact, the same Christ Who died on the dross of Calvary died for them as well as

the Pakeha. —I am, etc.,

Cameron 'St., Wluuigarei, July 10, 1925.

A. PURDIE,