MAORI LIFE AND CUSTOMS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3860, 6 March 1928, Page 58

MAORI LIFE AND CUSTOMS.

IMPORTANT FILM PROJECT. AUCKLAND, February 27. From Universal City, Hollywood, California, there arrived in Auckland bv tha Niagara to-day a party of five persons with Mr Alexander Marky at their head to make a film of Maori traditions and customs. After its work here the party will take back with it 15 or 20 Maoris, who will be trained to .play the prologna to the picture. They will tour tates with the film when it is released. “ New Zealand is a little known country. Hundreds of people have not the haziest idea where and what New Zealand is, and I have travelled all over the world,” said Mr Marky. “It is admitted that the screen is the most powerful means of advertisinsr at the present time, and I think that with this film New Zealand should get valuable and unlimited publicity.” The New Zealand Government has been exceptionally kind to me,” said Mr Marky, “ and the Prime Minister, when he learned that I was coming out, sent me a cablegram saying that he was glad to hear I was coining, and that he was enthusiastic about the idea of making a picture such as I ’propose to make.’’ The New Zealand Government had extended its offer of co-operation and Mr Marky said that he was delighted with the idea.