MAORI PLANT LORE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 21029, 13 November 1931, Page 3

MAORI PLANT LORE.

TEXTILES AND CUSTOMS. CLUB LUNCHEON TALK. Koine interesting fads regarding Maori plant lore with an excursion into the field of textiles, were given by Miss Lucy Cranwell at the luncheon talk at the Lyceum Club yesterday, Mrs. B. Buttle presiding. Miss Cranwell spoke of the early Polynesian voyagers who first reached these shores, but did not settle, and then passed on to the time when the Hawaiikians arrived as colonisers. That they intended to settle was evident by the fact that they brought with them somo of their food plants, such as the taro, the ktimara, the. yam, etc. 'lhey also brought with them their textile arts, but as time advanced these lost something of the excellence which had distinguished them in their own homeland. These arts, said Miss Cranwell, were of considerable importance in the lives of the people and especially of the women. To the latter as a general rule, fell the manufacture of the articles of clothing, of kits, mats, etc., as it was considered derogatory for a man to make them. When Dr. Te Rangihiroa (Dr. Buck) was making investigations as to their methods of work the Maoris were very reluctant to give information because they thought such knowledge lowering to his manly dignity. They wished to protect him 'by not "telling 'him anything about their textile work. Miss Cranwell described the methods followed of treating flax when used for making clothing and said that the flax used by the early Maoris was superior to the fibre used by the Maoris to-day, who frequently used any kind of flax pulled at ariv time' of the year.

The method of weaving, which naturally was very primitive, was described, and for this the women were responsible. The Maoris to-day, said Miss Cranwell, were stimulated to make articles which were not used in ancient times and it was very hard to get the garments which used to bo worn. Miss Cranwell showed several articles of use and of clothing made by the oldtime Maoris and said that Mr. Archey. the curator of the Museum, had made it possible for specimens of ancient Maori manufacture to be sent to the schools, so (hat the children could see and learn something of the native history of this country.