KELPFUL COMMENTATOR

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 58, Issue 4188, 24 May 1939, Page 8

KELPFUL COMMENTATOR

MR H. BINSTED, F.R.G.S. HEAD OF ONEHUNGA PRIMARY SCHOOL. Visiting Kawhia originally with the intention of making a brief stay, but taken with the native attractiveness and interested in the historic associations of the port and environs, is Mr H. Binsted, F.R.G.S., accompanied by Mrs Binsted, who both admit that the retaining influence exercised by Kawhia is difficult to resist, and the necessary effort to decide a date for departure is just a little difficult to exercise. Being aware of the helpfulness obtainable from others who are qualified to express opinions with the assurance attributable to study and its invariable concomitant, knowledge, opportunity was taken to approach Mr Binsted for an expression of his opinion on Kawhia, past, present, and future. It was only a question of moments before recognising that Mr and Mrs Binsted have the type of personality which is pleasing to contact and upon being informed of the motive which prompted approach he readily agreed to grant the requested favour. It can hardly be said that Mr Binsted was “interviewed ” in the accepted uress interpretation of the term. The conversation assumed for» some time more the form and nature of an interchange of thoughts. Many subjects were touched upon, varying

from history, psychology, ethnology, to sand-drift, medical associations, racial mergence, and civics, and all were held relevant to and indispensable sources from which it was necessary to draw when determining future possibilities from the present status of Kawhia. Even during the brief opportunity as yet afforded him for the reception of impressions Mr Binsted is already aware of the unique nature of interests vested in Kawhia. More so, it is safe to say, than many who have lived in the locality over extended periods, and he is also aware of the advisability—even the necessity—of effecting a mergence of these interests to enable Kawhia to fulfil its role and take a full share in shaping the destiny of New Zealand. He traced a line of thought which was peculiarly interesting and not difficult to follow—so interesting, in fact, that more, satisfying results and more convincing answers to umittered queries were obtained by following Mr • Binstcd’s remarks than would have been possible had interrogative methods been resorted to. The speaker covered all the known ground and impinged to a noticeable extent upon new territory as well, and left one individual at least fully fortified in his belief that cultivated thought, clearly expressed, exercises a potent influence in the affairs of men. The unique • resources or interests are historic, geographic, economic, and human, the two latter constituting a peculiarity which will develop, under wise administrative guidance, into understandings that must ultimately and necessarily be arrived at to effect the mergence of different types of mentality and outlooks of men. The numerically predominating race in Kawhia district is the native one,

and much depends upon how European mentality will react to the inescapable psychological effect of continuous contact with a race which is, instinctively, closer to the primitive, yet proving capable, under guidance, of transcending it, but with its ability to sustain itself on a higher level without the guidance not yet proved. Whether the mergence of the more physical with the present over-devel-oping mental trend will have a beneficial and stabilising effect depends upon the attitude adopted towards its different phases, and such phases will be watched and studied by the psychologist. The geographical interest of Kawhia is also exceptional by reason of its being the only safe harbour on the west coast and the nearest point of contact with Australia and the world overseas; whilst historically Kawhia has more than a proportionate share in the history of New Zeland, traceable through the past 25 centuries—perhaps -more, if certain signs have been interpreted correctly. That Tainui, one of the canoes which brought the first immigrants from Hawaiiki. is buried and held sacred at Kawhia is in itself sufficient to arrest and maintain the interest of ail engaged in the recentlyundertaken quest for “ origins ” in view of centennial celebrations. Mr Binsted has no doubt regarding the future of Kawhia. provided the people themselves rise to respond to the call for development by the mergence of all interests—be they geographic, historic, or civic—thereby conserving resources and working to one end in unison, success will be assured. The foregoing embraces many portions of the ground covered in the course of an informative conversation which time was responsible for bringing to a close.