MODERN VIEW-POINTS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2928, 27 April 1910, Page 65

MODERN VIEW-POINTS.

MAORI IDEALS CHANGING

WORK OF THE YOUNG MAORI PARTY.

The Young Maori Association, which aims at progress for the Native on modern lines, has just concluded its annua! conference at Waipawa, Hawke's Bay. It was attended by the Hon. A. T. Ngata, who gave a brief sketch of the movement wind' commenced ]3 years ago, and has been a.considerable factor in the uplifting of the Native race. The most remarkable effect of the movement, he said, had been the influence on the Maori point of view. Without going so far as to say that the Maori had brokem entirely from his past, he could say tha* he was disposed to hark back on that pasb and its grievances less and less, and to look, with greater hope and a saner view, upon the future. The Young Maori party had been engaged in teaching the Maori to study the equipment of the pakeha for the practical things of life, without servilely copying pakeha methods. They would , adopt these with such modifications as the circumstances of the race might determine. LAND QUESTION IN ITS PLACE. There was no doubt that the native land question had occupied three-fourths of tho Maori mind, and the party's mission was j to put native land question in its proper perspective and place in the Maori life. Thus the ascertainment , of I title, or the righting of alleged wrong committed by the Native Land! Court, should hoid only, say, a fourth place, more attention being given to the improvement of the owner of the land, and by education and in other ways to utilise or administer his land to the best effect. Sanitation had been made one of the party's chief concerns from the first, but this was no ] longer the' mere dream of the reformer. ' The Government had taken control, through ■ the Maori Councils and the native branch j of the Public Health Department, and hadi j recently placed nurses paid by the Native 1 Department in charge of Maori districts. j The Education Department in 1893 adopted ' a suggestion made by the party, that Maori I girls should be trained in the hospitals of ' the Dominion, and several girls had been so ! trained, and completed their course, and were now in active work amongst thVfir people. The party held strong views on ; the question of liquor, and in" this respect [ good progress had been made. With few j" exceptions it could be said that the Maori j settlements throughout the North Island : were clear of the evil. Drunkenness was | rarely seen in the villages, and liquor was rarely supplied at festive gatherings. Here, i again, the Government had incorporated : in legislation many suggestions which had j been made by, the party, , Amongst the resolutions passed by the conference was tun, expression- in regard to liquor in the King Country, reaffirming an old resolution objecting to any alteration in the existing position which migi'. allow IwJanaes to be granted in that area. The next conference will take place at Te | Aute, Hawke's Bay.—New Zealand Timts.