IDEALS OF SERVICE

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17346, 25 August 1930, Page 11

IDEALS OF SERVICE

WORK AMONG NATIVES ADDRESS BY REV. A. N. SCOTTER The importance of the duty of Europeans to set an example for native races to follow, and of encouraging and assisting the progress and development of tlio native races was stressed by tho Rev. A. N. Scotter. 8.A., president of the Methodist Conference in New Zealand, in a brief but interesting address delivered at to-day’s Rotary Club luncheon. Mr. Scotter is revisiting Gisborne for the first time since he left this district 33 years ago, and for some minutes he entertained the Rotarians with reminiscences of the town in earlier days.

In introducing the speaker, the chairman, Rotarian Adam Wilson, mentioned that Mr. Scotter was an old Gisborne boy, having received his early education at the Gisborne High .School, and had now achieved the highest honor in the Methodist Church. Mr, Scotter mentioned in opening that he had been secretary of the Methodist Conference for six years in succession some years ago, and for one year during that period the Rev. W. J. Elliott, now of Gisborne, had been president. It was 33 years since lie had left Gisborne, and on his return now he had found some marvellous changes. Ihe town iiaci glown wonderfully, and now possessed some, splendid buildings and good roads. He could remember the time when Gladstone road and other streets of the town had been metalled for the first time; prior to that parts of the road were unfathomable mud, and one had to know the track if one wanted to get anywhere. Some three years ago, continued Mr. Scotter, be bad been sent to the Solomon Islands, and made a most, interesting study of the life of the Europeans and the natives in that part of the globe. His interest in the Maoris, also, had always been very keen, and bad been continued all through the years. He felt that Europeans had a big problem before them yet; tho Maoris were not people we. could neglect, and we were inclined to .neglect them. Even with all bis brightness and ability, the Maori was one of the backward people with whom we came in contact. Our forefathers had given us a wonderful heritage in the make-up of our characters, and wo are apt to forget that the colored peoples received an examine from us, and that we were inclined to hinder their progress and development. In the Islands many of the traders, while ready to “boss the natives, made no attempt to provide them with ideals. There were several parts of the Empire in which rigid rules were set down prohibiting colored men from interfering with white women, but it. was equally important that Europeans should ho prevented from interfering with the women of the native- races. Rotary had that ■wonderful word “service” in its ideal, and il that word were adopted in work in contact with the native races, the Maoris and islanders could be set an example which would encourage their progress and development. The church and Rotary hud the fine, ideal, “service.” and it was well to do something to serve these peoples and'lift them up. encouraging and helping them. Rotarian F. W. Nolan was the proposer of a hearty vote of thanks to the speaker, and he remarked that it had been of great interest to meet Mr. .'scotter again and hear Inns toll of the progress of the town.