UNITY AMONGST MAORIS.

Taranaki Daily News, 29 January 1934, Page 6

UNITY AMONGST MAORIS.

Concurrently with a reawakening of race sentiment amongst the Maoris there is a strong tendency toward the elimination of tribal differences and the welding of the people into an amicable whole. That tendency has apparently been given considerable impetus by the large gathering of Natives at Ratana Village to welcome and entertain the new Maori “king.” Until recently it had appeared that the initiation of a new and powerful sect under the leadership of Wiremu Ratana had created yet another division of the race, but now it seems that Ratana and his followers have accepted the edict of certain far-seeing ancestors that for the permanent good of the people the Maoris should be “brought together to live as one big family.” Several decades following the wars had robbed the Maoris of something of the strong individuality that made them outstanding amongst the “native” races. There was to some extent a loss of independence, national pride and effort for betterment. That loss is steadily being recouped. Leaders both Maori and pakeha are giving the people an incentive to work—on the land and in the professions and trades. Interest in their arts, crafts, language and customs is being stimulated with good effect, and in this respect the influence of Lord Bledisloe has been strong. National pride in achievement will go a long way toward the rehabilitation of the old spirit amongst the mass of the people —their leaders have always been strong individuals—but instead of the wastage of effort in inter-tribal differences there should be a greater expenditure of energy for the advancement of the race. In that reconstruction the greatest influence for good will be unity of purpose. Therefore the country will welcome the announcement of one of Ratana’s executive concerning the present gathering: “It means the fulfilling of the statements of our forefathers that the Maoris should be as one family and not split into various sections.”