REFORMING THE MAORI.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 14209, 4 November 1909, Page 6

REFORMING THE MAORI.

A GENERAL AWAKENING. [BY TELEGRAPH.SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.] Wellington, Wednesday. Dr.. Pomare, health officer to the Maoris, in his annual report, gives a glowing account of the good results of the work of his Department. He writes:"We commenced with sanitary reforms amongst the Maoris with a great deal of trepidation, but the result of the work has proved astonishingly satisfactory—in fact, far beyond our dreams or expectations. We can trulv state to-day that, owing to sanitary adjustments, the Maori is a hundred per cent, better off than he was nine years ago. The Maori has awakened with the passing of such men as Te Whiti and Tohu. . With the constant agitation in the direction of land settlement, of individual effort, of sanitation and progress, the Maori has realised that the only royal way to salvation is by work. Everywhere our young men are clamouring to get on to the land. and.

when once one or two are successful many try to emulate their example." In giving examples of what has been done, Dr. Pomare says : " Whole villages have been renovated. Some have been shifted from their low, damp situations to the higher lands. Hundreds of insanitary houses have been destroyed without a penny of compensation being asked for, and new houses have, been erected. In some districts it would be quite difficult to find a. Maori whare of the old stamp; they have all gone in the general awakening that lias taken place."