PAKEHA AND MAORI

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIX, Issue 97, 29 August 1923, Page 5

PAKEHA AND MAORI

VISIT OF HON. A. T. NCATA. fe __ . w &toa: • n AN ENJOYABLE EVENING. In this portion of Taranaki there iiTo many people who know very little of the Native .race as compared with settlers iu tho Waikato or the "Far North." Last evening at tho Egmont Club, members and lady friertds had the pleasure of listening to a most distinguished Maori, i»i the person of the Hon. A. T Ngata. It had been announced as a lecture, but the hon. gentleman at the outset said that it was to be a "talk," and not a lecture. It happily proved to bo an interesting and highly instructive entertainment, given in a conversational style and devoid of stiffness, with here and there touches of Maori humour roliovlLng tho chat of any possible dullness.

Mr R. Masters, M.P., presided, and in expressing pleasure at having tho Hon. Ngata present that evening said that their visitor was equally popular with the pakeha as with tho Maoris, for no man in New Zealand had done more for his people. (Applause). In representing the Maoris, said Mr Ngata, one would naturally like a member of the race to say something about his people. At one time the Native question was considered the mo&t important in New Zealand. Later, "when we fought with you or against you," said the speaker, it was the burning question, %nd the settlement of Taranaki and the 'Waikato' formed the early history of this country. Looking at it from the prosent-day standpoint, it is not the acuto question that it was. There was probably much misunderstanding between the two races, and two points of view, prevail. He admitted he could not altogether detach himself from a certain amount of prejudice that naturally must be connected with the question. He hoped, however, those present would understand some of the difficulties under which the Maori was labouring. In numbers the race was only onetwentyjrfourth of the pakeha. The speaker then dealt at some length with the difficulties which the Maoris have to contend with in connection with land titles. If, continued the speaker, you had the misfortune to be tho descendants of twenty ancestors each having an original title of land, and., this scattered over four or five different counties, you would .realise how handicapped the Maori is compared with the Pakeha. Aftor having devoted the greater part of hifi, lifetime to the difficulties associated with land title, he (the Speaker) was only just now beginning to bring about improvement. It would take time, but ho hoped to leave to his children seme better heritage than he had been given. He paid a tribute to the statesman-like qualities of Sir James Carroll, Who by legislation was able to bring together scattered interests in land so as to make ifc worth while to farm and cultivate. Only during the last few years had they been able to make any progress with regard to the development of land. On the East Coast the land scheme was now working well and he was hopeful that further improvements in the land question would result. The Native was born with a great handicap such as the pakeha could not realise. The handicaps of ancestry were associated with everything connected with* the Native land problem. Another great handicap was the color line, and associated with it to a large extent; were ignorance and loose customs. It had been said that the Maori was lazy, but he reminded them that the oarly Maoris were the finest agriculturists in New Zealand. Tho British race had been trained through centuries to live by their wits. (Laughter). The Scotch ancestry were noted for their care (laughter)—be'ing long-beaded and provident, and these qualities went towards the assembling of power to gain a competence in life. The Maoris were more like the Irish, who by some have been called the whito Maori.

Mr-Ngata then gave some homely illustrations to support his statements, and these incidents added to the pleasure of the address. In some respects, he continued, the Maoris were like the pakeha, they were fond of sport, and made good footballers and certainly great gentlemen. (JApplause). He admitted that Maoris were not competent to take the full share of work in this country.

The speaker then touched on the difficulties which the Maoris had to wean themselves away from the communistic system of living, and to adopt the individualistic mode of life. With the communistic life was associated the land question, and it was hoped in time freehold would he acquired and dealt with similar to the pakeha. He mentioned the methods adopted on the East Coast where the farms were run on business principles. Of education, the speaker said that had done more lor the pakeha than anything else. He strongly advocated greater educational facilities, and said that where possible they did their best to push on from the secondary schools to the university. To bo an engineer or surveyor did not (to the Maori) bound so well as a lawyer or a doctor. They advocated principally an education with a, distinct industrial bias. For a long time he had devoted much attention to the study of the race, and I to ethnological research. To trace ! how far back, the Pakeha and Maori V»T9 connected was a study, and the

examination of skulls—C s <> un ds I'ke a museum, doesn't it, said the speaker amid laughter)—give some indication that a long way back the two races were connected. There was no need to bo sentimental over the matter, he said. The Maoris wanted to get behind that and to make good. On the liquor question, the speaker spoke of the handicaps, and looking at the question from the Maori standpoint, he admitted it had not been for their good. There was, however, a good deal of sentiment being introduced into tho question, especially in connection with licensing in the King Country. At present the land title was based on the weakness of the Maori under the influence of liquor. Mr Ngata said he was not in a position to decide for the.whole of 'N'ew Zouland whether the Maori was able to stand wliisky as well as the Scotolnnau or Irishman. Criminally, ho remarked there was no difference between the two races.

The speaker dealt at length with the difficulties which would be created i,f the Maori was able to deal with and dispose of bjis laud as the pakeha. In a lucid stylo and with great tact, he spoke of tho weaknesses and influences of the Pakeha and tho Maori which gained much attention. In conclusion, h© recited a Maori descriptive poem of New Zealand and the war-time episodes '(entitled: "Scenes from the Past"), finishing with a characteristic haka, which, judging by the outburst of applau&e, was heartily appreciated.

The Chairman expressed appreciation of the intellectual treat which had been given them by the Hon. Ngata, who would prove a great influence to the Maoris, and especially to the young men of the Poverty Bay district. He valued the address that evening very much. Mr Masters, in congratulating the debating club on thejir useful service to the town, hoped that they would aarangp for otheir speakers on similar lines. (Applause). Ou the motion of Mr Camion, seconded by Mr Amess, a hearty vote of thanks was accorded the Hon. Ngata. for his address. During the evening the Egmont Club orchestra, under the baton of Mr O. H, Lawn, provided some choice musical selections which were highly esteemed. Mr Gaffanoy paid a tribute to the services rendered at that and similar gatherings, and a hearty vote of thanks and appreciation was accorded. A vote of thnks to the chairman for presiding! was also carried by acclamation. Afterwards a social and dance was held, when a large nujnber of people participated in the entertainment. In every wtiy the evening was an enjoyable one.