THE MAORI RACE

Otago Witness, Issue 3212, 6 October 1915, Page 52

THE MAORI RACE

PLEA FOR THE FUTURE. PAHIATUA, October 4. In the course of a patriotic address at a sacred concert by the Hinomoa Opera Company, the Rev. F. Bennett, a prominent Native clergyman, referred to the patriotism of the Maori people. He mentioned that out of the mere handful of Maoris, they had already sent away over 800 of the very best. As the Government had expressed a wish that a reinforcement to the number of 240 should bo sent every two months, it could be seen that the Maori people wore certainly going to do their “little bit” in the Empire’s hour of need. The elderly Natives of the various tribes, especially those in the East Coast electorate, had sent over 1000 frozen sheep, and over £IOOO for the destitute in the Motherland, in addition to what they had done for local funds. Mr Bennett feelingly asked: “Is there to be no limit fixed as to the number of Maoris who will be accepted for the front? There is not the slightest doubt that the Maori as a race is dying. One process, that of absorption, is going on so rapidly that in another generation or two it will bo very difficult to find a pure Maori, but the proportion of the best Maori m mhcod who are now being accepted for the front is so high that I, for one, would be glad if the Government would make a limit, say 1000 men, and not ask for anv more reinforcements unless the situation becomes very critical. How is the race to be perpetuated if the best Maori manhood are to be sent in such large proportions to the front? One thousand men out of a total population of less than 50,000 men, women, and children is a high proportion.” Mr Bennett explained that this was his own personal conviction only; it did not emanate from the Maori people. They would probably bo willing to send the last man to the field of battle if circumstances demanded it. He asked: “Arc we prepared to hasten the extinction of "the race by sending forth unlimited numbers of the progenitors of the Maori people of the future?” The matter was sufficiently serious to demand very careful consideration on the part of the people of the dominion.