Vital Problem In Guidance Of Young Maoris

Northern Advocate, 17 December 1942, Page 6

Vital Problem In Guidance Of Young Maoris

(By “RAMON") Delinquency among Maori children calls for new measures to supersede those operating, and failing, today. New Zealand lias always prided itself on its treatment of the native race, and visitors from countries where aboriginals are not accorded similar recognition in rights and status have expressed surprise at the place of the Maori in association with the European, fostering the idea that this Dominion lead's the world in its attitude to its natives. But have the people of New Zealand, through their Governments, be they Labour or Conservative, given the necessary thought to the welfare of the Maori with particular attention to solving the problem attendant on contact with that we are pleased to call our civilisation? A fine race, with physical and mental qualities far exceeding those of the majority of other native peoples, the Maori, it may be argued, is being spoiled because, while still native at heart, he is endeavouring to emulate

his Pakeha brethren and, instead of

absorbing the finer qualities, is becoming debased by his absorption of the worse habits of the white people. Therefore, when, in three years of war. the Maori has won world renown for his epic deeds and undying heroism in Libya, Greece and Crete, does it not behove the people of New Zealand and their Government to examine closely the welfare of the younger Maori as a duty to the fathers and elder brothers who have fought, and

are fighting, so valiantly in the inter-

ests of this Dominion and its sister nations of the British Commonwealth? Call For Action

Whether it be in sense of duty or in sense of appreciation, action by the Government, even in wartime, is an urgent call. Child delinquency is always a prob-

lem, but as it affects the Maori it has its special points for consideration.

Courts throughout the Dominion are familiar with child delinquency in all its forms, but it is in the courts of the

North Island that the majority—and a large majority it is—of Maori juven-

ile offenders appear. No recent epidemic of delinquency of Maori children has occurred, but that does not mean that measures to meet the present incidence are not necessary. For years the courts have

had to deal with the problem as best they could, and results have not been

overwhelmingly encouraging. While actual figures, not available to the Fress, may reveal fluctuation, or even

a decrease, in the number of cases to come before the children’s courts, it

can be taken that they do not indi

cate the scolving of a problem which has long interested social humanitarians.

Present methods are failing to act either as corrective or preventive, and overhaul the system of child welfare administration as it concerns the Maori child is needed. Before considering what measures could be taken to attain a more happy result in correction or prevention, the problem itself, together with the facilities available to the courts, calls for scrutiny. Really serious crime is not common among the young Maori, but he—comparatively few young Maori girls come before the courts—has a faculty for mischief and petty crime which lodges him before the magistrates. This is due in no small measure to association with the Pakeha. Product of a generation which might well be termed one of half-civilisation, he is associated with young members of the white race whom he delights to imitate, and unfortunately it is usually of the worse type of boys that he becomes a disciple and develops undesirable traits. Anything unlawful, anything spectacular, appeals to him, and he does not hesitate to imitate. After-School Trouble

it is during the post-school period particularly that he is apt to stray into trouble, partly because of lack of initiative in competing with the European, despite the fact that experience lias proved that he is, with reasonable education, capable of developing into a first-class tradesman, and partly because the present system ol pensions does not encourage him to work and to carve for himself a niche in the world.

Many of the offences with which young Maoris are charged lead to con-, sideration of a question: Is the Maori as civilised as the majority of people believe? In a broad sense the answer may be in the affirmative, but it is in small things, many of them according to European standards constituting crime, that a negative must be given. In his native state the Maori was one of a community with few individual possessions. To a lesser extent the same position applies today. Consequently, with an inborn code of mutual interest and proprietorship, he is apt to consider that what belongs to one belongs to another, and L is not infrequently that carrying out of this idea has led him into court on theft charges. In civilisation half-Maori, half-European, he has a confusion of mind that tends to steer him, as is invariably the case, the wrong way. Maori child delinquents coming before the courts are admonished and discharged, are placed under the supervision of child welfare officers, or are committed to the Superintendent of Child Welfare or to a Borstal institution.

Those with knowledge of the Maori are familiar with the reaction to each of these measures. Admonished and discharged, the Maori child is truly repentant in nearly every instance, but it is doubtful if his newly-macte resolution to be a good boy in the future stands the test of time. More Officers Needed

Supervision by child welfare officers, hard-working men and women conscientiously carrying out their duties over areas far too large fo r them to cover adequately, cannot be calles successful. Only the appointment ol more officers, with resultant reduction in size of districts, and of honorary officers, will enable this system to work effectively, as supervision of Maori children demands more attention than in the case of European delinquents. In this, not the least disturbing factor is the native hone, the easy-going mode of living and carelessness of the future—the lattertrait developed to an alarming extent by the beneficence of the Social Security Act.

Committal to the care of the Superintendent of Child Welfare is a step only taken with reluctance by some magistrates, who are hesitant because of. the doubtful success of taking' a child from his home only to have him boarded out under the supervision of the department. Maori girl delinquents sent out into service have their time off duty, and during that period are not under supervision, with danger of a continuance of bad habits. (To Be Continued)