SHARP DENIALS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26774, 18 May 1948, Page 6

SHARP DENIALS

IN-BREEDING AMONG MAORIS CLERGYMAN’S REMARKS RESENTED PA. AUCKLAND, May 17. Talk about in-breeding among North Auckland Maoris to qualify for the family allowance was absolute nonsense, said Mr K. T. Karawira, Maori vocational guidance officer at Auckland, commenting 6n the allegations made by the Rev. 'Blackwood Moore on Sunday. He said that Mr Moore should have made sure of his facts by consulting Maori leaders. If the Anglican Church was to be the guardian of community morals, it must be active, but the Church was losing ground among northern Maoris, who were going to other denominations. Astonishment at Mr Moore’s remarks was expressed by the principal of Wesley College- at Paerata, the Rev. E M. Marshall. They certainly did not apply to the Maoris whom he knew, he said. The first assistant at Wesley College, the Rev. M. Win'iata, declared the statements to be completely unfounded. “Mr Moore’s allegations are a criticism of his Church,” Mr Winiata added. “He is passing the buck to the Government and making of it a political issue. Statistics show that the increase in Maori population began long before there was hny social security.” , In a sermon in St. Mgtthew s Church, Auckland, on Sunday, Mr Moore said that he understood there was in-breed-ing among Maoris in parts of North Auckland so as to qualify for the family allowance. .