THE MAORI RACE

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 18594, 3 January 1935, Page 4

THE MAORI RACE

PLEA FOR SYMPATHY PRESENT DAY DIFFICULTIES HELP OF CHRISTIANITY (Per Pross Association.) HASTINGS; last night. A moving plea for sympathy and help for the Maori race in its present day difficulties and for patience in awaiting the rebuilding of the Maori code of cthios according to the principles of Christianity was made this evening by Mr, Hemi Nikora, a Maori missioner, at a gathering at the Dominion conference of the Presbyterian Bible Class Movement. Mr. Nikora's address was, perhaps, an emotional climax of a week’s meetings, and deeply stirred his audience tof over TOO people. “Some of the cults that had sprung up, misguided as they had been, wore nevertheless an expression of the Maori desire to seek some revelation of Christ/’ said Mr. Nikora, “It was not long since Maori life had been hedged about with superstition on every side, even in the most common things of life. To-day; however, superstition was almost completely a spent torce among the Maori race, and Christianity was gaining ground through the work of the missions.

“ Those_wlio had been sent out to work as missionaries among ns have been fathers and mothers in God to us,” said Air. Nikora. “And those of us Maoris who are here to-nighi. arc but a few of the fruits of their labors. Gradually, but surely, Christ - iauity is coming into tlio Maori life through the influence of the people whom you have been supporting. “For us Maoris lo rise in tlio scale of life wo must always took In .you, and wo must always seek from you your interest and your help. The

pakeba. life and the Maori life are totally different things. Before you came, we lived our own life and when you came you showed us that yours was a better life and it overwhelmed ours. We accepted .it and we want to rise. We cannot carry ,on any longer, according to our Maori standards. You must help us. You cannot. rebuild our race in one day. The Maori people are crying out to you from the depths of ignorance and darkness. What is your power?” Speaking of the Maori's desire for fellowship with his pakoha brothers, Mr. Nikora said: “When you moot a Maori 'give him a Christian nod o.f recognition and a brotherly recognition. It will go a long way—just one nod. I pray that you will never lose the sense of your responsibility of supporting the Maori missions and that you will support them, not because it is a responsibility, but because you love Christ and love those whom Christ loves.” _