The Timaru Herald. DSATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 1892.

Timaru Herald, Volume LV, Issue 5515, 17 September 1892, Page 2

The Timaru Herald. DSATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 1892.

A somewhat remarkable and m everyway commendable movement baa been set on foot by a few young natives m the North Island. We have not a full account of the aims of these young fellows by us, but from recollection of a little we ' have previously read, and an article contributed to the Bavikcs Bay Berald by one of them, we have gained the idea that this movement, originating with themselves, will do more to benefit the Maoris than all that the Native Office has been able to effect. Three young men, natives respectively of the Bay of Plenty, Bust Cape, and Chatham Islands, all three orphans us it haphens, and all students of Te Aute Native College, hnve lately been tramping m company over the country, visiting the Maori villages, and preaching a new gospel, the gospel of Social Reform, These youths ure m earnest, and, from their own report, the grey heads listen to them willingly and approvingly. What tbeße young men are preaching is best told m their own words, addressed to one of the assemblies of villagers. After apologising for addressing people older than himself, and promising to help them m dealing with the eternal land question when he became older, the leader proceeded : — " How many years have we been talking about our lands ? Lands, lands, lands, and nothing else but lauds. It Bee7iß to me the more we talk about onr lands the quieter they slip out of our hands. How many members have we sent to Parliament to talk of nothing else but lands ? What good have they done ? Let me just remind you of one thing that needs very deep thinking. We are trying to get our lands out of difficulties while wo are rapidly losing our very bodies. Your eyes have not been closed to the fact that our race is faßt dying out. Ever since the adrent of the pakeha our race has been dying by the hundred every year. You know this just as well as I do. Why don't you think of yonr body as well ? Is it because you cannot conveniently lease it to pskehas, or obtain money m exchange for it ? It is high ticne that, we should take up this very important, question. Let tis now work together for the preservation of our race, and for the welfare of our bodies and souls m particular. You know quite well that there were many more Maoris before than there are now j and are we to sit Htill and look at our race being crushed ont of existence ? Our race is dying, dying, dying; yes it is too true. The pakoba bus predicted that the day will come when, like the Tasmaniaus, tbere will not he a single Maori left breathing on the face of the earth. I know you don't like that. Bnt you cannot prevent it by looking at it without stretobing forth your band to avert it. I now ask you how is it that our race is fast travelling into obliteration, and how can that be stayed ? I put forth this question to all who are here at Te Waipetu to-night. What is to be done now ? After I have known your opinions about the matter, I shall give mine.'' Here wero reasons for doing something which his hearers could and did appreciate, and the young men heard such remarks os " What a pity we have not thought more of this before," and " T,his is the best thing we have beard for a long time." The chiefs and other speakers, some of them famous among the tribes, not only expressed approval but began to offer Bnggestions m reply to the important question raised. One laid stress upon drunkenness, another upon close intermarriages, another upon sleeping m packed and nnventilated wbares, as causes of the decay of their race. Then the young men stated their ideas, m the formation of which they had no doubt been assisted by sympathetic friends at college. Their plan of action, we gather, has not been printed yet, and indeed the plan must grow out of the application of the principle. Iv brief it is to form an association for the amelioration of the Maori race, among the Maoris themselves, and to encourage the adoption of all feasible means for securing better conditions of physical, mental, and moral life. The more than kindly reception the young men met with wherever they went, among strangera, j the evident interest, and oven enthusiasm, with which they were listened to, augurs well for the success of their effort. They were promised that their scheme should be brought before the native "Parliament," and many publicly promised thut they would send their children to school. Europeans can do little or nothing to help them, directly. If the movement progresses, as every lover of his kind and every admirer of a noblo race must wish, the more carefully Europeans refrain from interfering m it, the better. The path to improvement may be smoothed by legislative and other assistance^ but aid should only be given when asked for. The Maori is intelligent enough to work out his own salvation, and every one uiust wiqb him God speed with the task.