MAORI RACE

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 79, 7 February 1944, Page 4

MAORI RACE

THRESHOLD OF TRANSITION ( MANGER WROUGHT ON RAUF OUTLINED ADDRESS TO N.Z. I GENDERS Wellington, This Day ‘ The Maori race now stands on the threshold of a transitional stage,” said Mr R W. Pomare at a reception held, in Wellington on Saturday night by the president and council of the Now Zealand Founders' Society to mark the 104th anniversary of the Treaty of Waitangi Addressing a large gathering «uf members, all of whom are descendants of the pioneers who came to New Zealand within the first 10 years Ol the settlement of the colony. Mi Pomare, who.-* great-grandfather at one time “owned all the land round Wellington,” outlined the migrational and evolutionary changes .wrought on hi. race long before, and since, the treaty. “Wc were of the stone age, and fatekept u.s to the stone age till hundred of years elapsed,” he said. "Previous to the advent of a European civilisation in this country wc had what might be termed an ideal communal civilisation. The main activity was fighting.” This ancient virtue and modern vice had its advantages. The inhabitants dwelt iq lofty vantage points—which were also the healthiest. A rigorous physical regime had to be observed along with a high standard of native culture. There were sacred schools of learning where the laws of the tribe were taught to its sons by the tohungas and there was a strong moral code, for any violation «.f the laws of tapu meant death. Tribal warfare ceased with the white man. The Maori descended to the low swampy atmosphere of the valleys, and decadence set in. This was intensified, at the beginning of the century, when the race dwindled to 39.000 and Europeans were hopefully boasting that it would soon be as extinct as the Morlori. His people were brooding about the land which was disappearing like dew in the sun, and the complete change in communal and socialistic living was tearing down the habits and practices of centuries. Mr Pomare delineated the dire state caused by evils arising from ignorance of the proper uses to which civilisation could be put. Then a more definite’ move to stem the tide of dec&dente sweeping over the Maori race came through the gospel of hygiene. Amazing changes took place in a short space of time, due largely, to the establishment of Maori councils which disseminated information essential and incidental to health. These councils were responsible for the population increase extending from 39.000 to to-day's total of over 90.000. “VOLCANIC GROUND” Now the race was again at the transitional stage. “Those who have the interests of our people at heart must instil into them the necessity of their being independent economic units. In many ways we Maoris are ou r Own worst enemies. No laws can prevent us from becoming hewers of wood and earners of water—except ourselves,” emphasised Mr Pomare. Steps were being taken to improve and impress the importance of housing and environmental conditions but making his people realise their value in connection with health was hard work. The average Maori death rate from tuberculosis was 4.94 per thousand. A thorough survey conducted by Dr H. B. Turbott. of the Department of Health, had recently been made among Maoris on the Eost Coast. As a member of the Taranaki Maori Trust Board Mr Pomare expressed pleasure at the recent purchase of a mobile X-ray plant which will be available to Maori and pakeha alike Deploring the gap* in Maori life between Native youth leaving primary school and being absorbed by the lab°ur market Mr Pomare stated he was aware that the subject of education was ’ volcanic ground.” It was not the fine - culture so much as the useful and practical things of everyday life which were needed. There was a move afoot to have facilities for technical training in some districts, and this would help to infuse a little more of the independence sadly needed to-day in Maori national life.

Our destiny is largely in our own hands, he concluded. Better clothing food, and housing standards would serve racial identity in the blending of a more wholesome life.