WORK AMONG MAORIS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21874, 9 August 1934, Page 3

WORK AMONG MAORIS

EMPLOYMENT FOR GIRLS "AN ADOPTED MOTHER" In the midst of a constant stream of Maori women and girls visiting their "adopted mother" yesterday to talk over with her their troubles and difficulties, Sister Ivy, of the Methodist Mission, found time to give a brief interview on the work she carries out. Supported by the Women's Missionary Auxiliary of New Zealand, Sister I\;y's work comprises the care and guidance of the Maoris, her chief interest naturally lying with the girls and children. "The welfare of the Maori girl is demanding a great deal of time and thought," Sister Ivy said. "Especially after the school leaving age, when she finds herself thrust into a world full of temptation and difficulty. It is at this time she needs the sympathy and guiding hand of her white sisters." The avenues to employment for a Maori girl were not numerous. Many advocated the open air life as being the natural and most suitable one, but this meant very uncertain employment, hard work and long hours for a mere pittance. The Maori girl was a capable gardener, but as a means of livelihood this was not at all satisfactory. She realised she had to compete with her white sister for her living and she was anxious for training that would qualify her to do so, Sister Ivy continued. This, fortunately, was now available in the home for training Maori girls in domestic work, nursing, etc., which has been established at Onchunga. "In a city such as Auckland, where numbers of these Maori girls are, a club fills a great need, and the one established here six years ago for Maori girls of all denominations has proved a great boon," Sister Ivy said. "This club not only provides wholesome fun and social intercourse, but gives me continual contact with the girls among whom I work. They appreciate the opportunity of meeting others of their own race and feel that instead of being one among many white folk they belong to a family of their own people." Asked if the Maori girls responded readily to the interest of their white benefactors, Sister Ivy said they were much more open to control than the white girl. Many of them were given into the charge of Sister Ivy by their own parents, who either found it hard to control them themselves or else

wished to have them placed in work for the sake of the family finances. To these girls Sister Ivy immediately becomes an "adapted mother," and after seeing that they were thoroughly qualified in the various domestic arts she endeavoured to place them in worft in private homes where she was able to keep in touch with the mistresses and thus watch the girls' progress. "A gradual fusion is going on between the Maori and white races," Sister Ivy said. "Maori girls are constantly marrying white men and 1 am sure that in generations to come the future races will have a fusion of both bloods in their veins. Therefore, as women, wo have a great opportunity and a great responsibility in helping this race that will really be ono sido of the ancestors of the future."