BRITISH BROADCASTING:

Taranaki Daily News, 4 January 1927, Page 7

BRITISH BROADCASTING:

NEW ZEALAND PROGRAMME MAORI MUBIC FOR BRITONS. London, Oct. 6. Listenere-in throughout Great Bri» tain had an opportunity oue night last week of learning a great, deal about New Zealand. It was the New Zealand night of the British Broadcasting Company, and the greater part of the programme, from 7.40 until 11 o’clock, consisted of talks regarding the Dominion or music by New Zealand artiste. Early in the evening, Mrs. Margaret Staples-Browne (formerly known Us Maggie Papakura) epoke for half sfn hour on the Maori race. She told how they started out far back in the night of time from a mainland called "Uru,” how they migrated to the land known as Irihia (India), and from there, about 399 8.C., to a place called Tawhitiroa, and so in time out to the Islands of Kiwa (the Pacific Ocean). She told of how they voyaged in their great canoes to New Zealand. “They had wanders ed half a world away from their original Homeland, and here, at the edge of the. world, they abide, conservative, and disdainful as of old to await the end.” The speaker went on to tell of the old life ef the Maoris, of their religious beliefs and practices, of the daily life of the people, of their arte and handicrafts. Turning to the present day, the speaker continued;- 1 “Our boys and girls now go to school, to college, and university, and realise that, without education, they canpot compete with their pakeha, brothers. Our Maori passes the same examinations, takes theeame degrees as any other New Zealander, and practices at the various professions.” She spoke of the loyalty of the people, and of their services to the Empire on the battlefields of Gallipoli and France, and finished with the greeting, "Tenn kotrtou. Kia ora koutou, Kfltoa.”