MAORIS AND ASIATICS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20405, 6 November 1929, Page 14

MAORIS AND ASIATICS.

Sir, —Mr. S. George undertakes to remipd mo "that the. Polynesian race originated in south-eastern Asia." Inferentially, he suggests the Maori' is an Asiatic.' Now,_ if the thoughtful member,? of the Maori race areshowing activity in their efforts to prevent the contact of their people with the Asiatics in our midst, this does not necessarily suggest, "colour prejudice" or even "racial hatred." It-pro-ceeds from deeper-rooted incentives—tha laudablo assertion of racial pride. Therein the Maori is in good company, indeed. He has the undoubted support and sympathy of all his pakeha fellow-countrymen, who similarly possess that pride. If any "racial hatred" is engendered in Maori efforts to preserve themselves from Asiatic submergenco, then such can only be the result of Asiatic intrusion. It js cue of the consequential results of allowing Asiatic immigration to this country, and reproducing hero the problems which similarly afflict other lands. As Maori womenfolk aro the first being seriously affected, it necessarily follows that the "Maori "is tho first to shout." Nor does the Maori claim unto himself "tho cult of the superior," suggested by Mr. George, any more than Mr. George apparently would do if his own domestic circle was invaded by Asiatics seeking wivr.s. Would Mr. George define where such doings, if possible, and {is affecting himself, would end ? As, however, Mr. George has definitely decided "that the Polynesian race originated in south-eastern Asia," he has decided more than tho imposing army of scholars have been able to do. But it is an age of time since Polynesians left (as did also oxir forefathers) those far Asiatic lands. Their extensive Pacific voyages in search of new homes have long since washed off such Asiatic dust as they may have picked up. That the Polynesian is like ourselves, however, an Aryan and not a Mongolian, is a scientific fact. - He is not, therefore, assuming any undue sense of superiority if, like ourselves, he disclaims any suggestion that he should be willing to accept Asiatic people racially or socially. In that wo must fullv. and wholeheartedly aid the Maori in ultimate racial justice to our* selves.: CrEO* Graham.