YOUNG MAORI PARTY.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXIX, Issue 101, 19 June 1911, Page 2

YOUNG MAORI PARTY.

i o LECTURE BY MR. .1. THORNTON. Mr. .1. Thornton, prinfipnl of Te Auto College, delivered an .interesting looture to a large audience in St. John’s Schoolroom; Hastings, the other evening. Bishop Avorill presided. The subject of the lecture 1 was “The Maoris and tile Young Maori Party.” Every question of any social interest at all "was briefly touched upon by the speaker. In connection with their habits, he said that there w : as a general impression 'that the Maoris were lazy, and incapable of being industrious. Ho was very glad to have the opportunity of refuting this false impression. He was able to say that the Maoris not only could work, but did work. To a certain extent it was true that the Maoris generally did not work as much as they should, but it was necessary to lake into consideration the extenuating circumstances. In the first place the Maoris were too well off. The salvation of the MAori race would be, ho thought, in depriving them of their land; it would hr a very efficient remedy, although somewhat drastic. The Maoris at the present time, had very little incentive to work, because other people stopped in and took the fruits of his labour. Another extenuating circumstance, was the unsettled state of the native lands, and Until this was remedied they could not hope for anything like general industry 'amongst then!.’ Helming to the Young Maori Party, Mr. Thornton gave a short outline of its history, and pointed out that the idea of the party from the first had boon the uplifting of the Maori race, do do tins they desired to educate Maori public opinion, and that was what they wore striving for. The Maoris were being taught to discuss and consider everything affecting their welfare. If,said Mr Thornton,the Maori «acc wore to ho uplifted, it had ’■■)t to I e done througu the Young Maori Laity, as represented by the rising generation. What they wanted t the present time was an organising secretary and a doctor, both of whom would travel among the Maoris from one oid of the country to the other; mil unfortunately there were no funds lor the purpose. Mis great desire was to see that the Maoris had a regular supply of simple literature. He. was ■•ure that il sued literature wdre sup plied it would immediately find a very large body of interested readers, and by this means they would he educating Maori public opinion. In conelu•'i up lie paid a tribute to the good wo i- k that was being done by the ; -dvrs at the Maori schools and by fie Maori missionaries.