FUTURE OF MAORI

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21717, 5 February 1934, Page 11

FUTURE OF MAORI

PAKEHA OBLIGATIONS INDIVIDUAL SETTLEMENT CRITICAL STAGE REACHED LAND BOARD'S FUNCTIONS The question of what is to be this next stage in the destiny of the Maori race was strongly urged as a matter of particular import to the Auckland Province by Mr. J. S. Jessep, one of the two appointed members of the Native Land Settlement Board, when interviewed by a representative of tha New Zealand Herald on his way through Auckland to Waitangi on Saturday.

"Not many people realise," said Mr. Jessep, "that 51,000 of the total Maori population of 68,000 are located in tha Auckland Province, and probably still less have given thought to the rather arresting fact that one person in every 10 in this province is a Maori. Th» Waitangi hui is an historic event, and provides a worthy occasion for .& pageant—perhaps the last on such i scale —of old-time Maori customs. B-.ifc with those who are closely concerned with the future of the Maori race ther-3 will remain after 'the tumult and til a shouting dies' the question, What of the future? "The famous Treaty briefly codified the respective rights of the parties to it. But at this stage of the Dominion's history, I think we are bound to acknowledge a wider t-ij th'j native race than a mere passive, if meticulous,' observance of such. _ obligations as are actually written into tLe Treaty. As I see it, there is a. definite responsibility on the European section of the community to assist the Maori in fitting himself for individual settlement of his land, now that his former communal mode of life has become impracticable, . Maori Proved Worthy

"This will require care and patience, but the Maori has shown himself ■worthy. No other race of natives in the Empire have excelled, the Maori# in their adaptability to. rural developmental work, on the field of sport and as soldiers in the last war. They have no inclination to commerce. They are -/ sons of nature and are happiest on the land. Ownership of land has been always a matter of vital importance in their racial outlook. Some of their greatest battles, and many of the most prominent events in Maori history, have had land ownership as the issue. "In a statement which I made some time ago in my capacity as deputychairman of the Unemployment Board, I pointed out that what has happened, in essence, is that the Maori left his pa for a couple of generations to assist the European settler in the bushfelling, scrub-cutting, roadmaking and other activities involved in the settlement and development of a new country—occupations which well suited his inclinations. The virtual completion of that stage of the country's development coincided with the occurrence of economic depression. His accustomed work finished, and no other obtainable, the Maori returned to his pa* In his absence he lost the communal habit of life followed by his forefathers; yet his land is still held i;i common ownership, preventing his de*veloping a pifcce for his individual use. "What must be done now is to push on with the individualisation of native lands that are held in common ownership, and side by side with that process facilitate the Maoris taking their place, as settlers. The handling of this question demands extreme care arid guid-» ance by practical, sympathetic men, whose knowledge will enable them, while respecting native traditions and habits of .life and thought, to directthe Maoris along lines that will lead eventually to their living and working as European settlers. „ I am hopeful that the Native Land Settlement Board can Income an effective instrument to that end. Sharing Civic Responsibility "The need for Europeanising the Maori habits of life does hot rest alone on consideration of Maori welfare. It gains insistence from the necessity for the Maoris to assume their share of responsibility for the cost of amenities from which they and their .lands benefit. The very real difficulties of county councils in connection with the effective rating of native lands have shown clearly that it is essential for the civio responsibility of- €:ach individual Maori to "be capable of definition through individual ownership of his land. ! . "It is inevitable in the progress of

the Maoris towards full participation ii the life of the pakeha community that their traditions and picturesque background will assume historical rather than practical importance. There is ns question that already the younger Maoris, educated in European schools and (colleges, are looking to take their place side by side with the pakehas as independent units of society. One has only to be present at a present-day discussion of tribal on any marae to note the marked divergence of opinion between the conservatism of the elders and the progressive ideals of the young Maori men. The complete emancipation of the latter from ths communal habits of other days, and their final establishment as self-reliant and- individual farmers, cannot be accomplished in a day—perhaps not in a generation. But I am strongly of opinion that unless New Zealand is to be saddled with a permanent native problem it must be accomplished ultimately, and that the time to expedite the process is now. Failure would be a crime against the native race and an everlasting admission of the _ Europeans' default in their obligations. Living Conditions "The housing of Maoris is alone £ serious matter. The native pa may be an interesting and romantic institution, but the Maoris must be encouraged to aim at better housing and living conditions. Fortunately, they adapt themselves readily to craftsmanship and the use of tools, and this aspect does not present, major difficulties. "Large tracts of native-owned farm lands are administered by trusts, whos9 operations hare been placed by recent legislation under the oversight of the Native Land Settlement Board. These blocks, will have to be treated, on different' lines from those of the past. They must become training grounds for the young Maoris, some of whom are now living aimlesslly on the rents as absentee owners. Under the new conditions suggested they would H systematically coached in the proper handling of stock and land and in farming operations generally. "As deputy-chairman of the Unemployment Board." concluded Mr. Jessep, 'T have had special opportunity of observing the deleterious effect which dependence on relief has on the Maori race, and I am convinced that continuance of the relief system so far as they are concerned constitutes, at the present critical stage of their social, and economic.evolution, a potential menace to their future. It could well tip the balance between their becoming permanently habituated to a state of dependence or becoming the permanently self-reliant citizens which full use of their lands yould make possible."