"THE STUDY OF THE NATIVE."

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18364, 3 April 1923, Page 8

"THE STUDY OF THE NATIVE."

' Sir,—;! venture;■ to state 4 earnestly that all writers on, and 'students of, the Maori ' . race at. the present time "will fully appreciate jour , recent leader on > this subject; . Your • review ';■; of ; the i present . position ;: of .... the Polynesians should be earnestly read by all interested in the past, present and future history, and "welfare of the abori- :;;;;.. gines of the I'acific. '•' No one need quesi • tion the value >of the study of what you j- justly term " a great branch of the human ~ family." The great opportunity is yet . with Us "of doing honour to the qualities .'i:;\ of ; f the Polynesian people? and of adding >; .■';?■ something :of • value' to. the sum of human ~ y - .; knowledge.": You state ■ that "the lack ,v , all through has been cf 1 a general im- ■ pulse toward, a necessary appreciation of this branch of study." I am in < full ac- : i.V cord with > your sentiments , thus expressed, • which should :'■ stimulate the more all : students and work to increased study, and !" : ; v earnest research <P- in "•'; the anthropology, > > .'- philology, ' ethnology, .; folklore ':. and i nistory ■> ~of -the noble" Maori, and all his kindred ;.: throughout the isles of the, Pacific. ; You .; remark that - " the Auckland University could make a. study of the Pacific peoples ,; peculiarly Jr its own." The object could '■(■■'■ readily .be attained by founding scholar- ■', v ships in these sciences, thus enabling the - ■ ..... students to if graduate .at the university. : j By reason of the v many, sumptuous v gifts j- and bequests to tlhe Auckland Public J! Library during 50 years, it is the richest endowed with classic works and papers in the Dominion on the"Pacific and Melan- ;,*';.: esian peoples. The: library of Sir George " Grey, and that of others in the public . institutions 'of Auckland, must prove ;: in- '.;:■■■,-■:. valuable: to students commencing a study .-..-■ and : research work on the lines that you zealously advocate. I was associated for many years with the late S. Percy Smith in the work of the Polynesian Society, and that G.O.M. *of Polynesian lore and '■'■■■ . learning invariably and sincerely, regretted , i, the ; great apathy and lack of ; interest. in Maori'and Pacific Island lore and history. v Few L«ow of the vast time he devoted :;;to the natives whom he profoundly loved. .'; As a ; pioneer litterateur in every phase of Maori' life . soire enduring memorial should v- be ,:■ resolved upon to ■ honour his great ■:.*" work. What more fitting tribute than that the University of Auckland found a P,ercy Smith Travelling Scholarship in .some. division of science dealing with the • Polynesians? This is a matter which may ; well and justly claim the fullest consideration o!f the Auckland'. University College • Council.,'; Percy Smith gave of his best, '-;"' at , all times, alike in , thought and time • ■"/■ to the uativo race. / I , urn also :in full, accord '.-, with your dictuia that the united literary work of ':. • authors of the past on the Polynesians ; "must some day be collected and col- -.-■' lated." A complete bibliography of all V: such v works and: papers' could ;bo inose ' readily compiled in Auckland than else- '' where. All matters - fully, considered the founding of a Polynesian chair of .'-■,; anthropology, ethnology, etc.. in the University ':■' of :-Auckland '{■; cannot be much longer. delayed. It would impart a greater ■-''■■■■'. ana more sustaining stimulus ,to the study '■■'■' of : the | Polynesians than now : obtains. I '■■)■ am ; earnestly impressed that \ the;: many :' i, generous I citizens of Auckland Would provide • the necessary funds to the university --. to found;|a" Polynesian chair, as .stated, , when ; the matter is clearly 'and, definitely submitted to -them. ;>Your \leader will.do • great? good in • promoting a ■ greater := interest in the Maori and his kindred in all Poly- .„ nesia. •'■:'/.-.-.'.', : W. W. Smtwi. ." New Plymouth, , March 16, • 1923.- y .'