MAORI AND PAKEHA

Waikato Independent, Volume XXXIV, Issue 3237, 24 November 1934, Page 2

MAORI AND PAKEHA

INTERESTS OF TWO RACES PARALLEL METHODIST MISSION'S WORK In his official report to the Synod, the Rev. R. Tahupotiki Haddon, senior superintendent of Methodist Maori Missions, malccs some interesting comments. He states: "Almost all Europeans go to either one or other of two extremes in their view of tho Maori. They either assume that the Maori can, as a race, in this generation, reach English standards in religion and ethics, or thoy go to the other extreme, and, despising the Maori, say that he cannot be lifted out of his ignorance, superstition, and nonmorality. "The Maori is one of the highest types of primitive people, and a potential equal even in European .culture with the European, but he ha; not yet attained, and in the very nature of things, cannot yet attain. But in the future lie will reach a high standard if you render him, at this present most critical phase of his development, the assistance that is his due as our child in the Christian faith. "We have before us in our Maori Mission an intensely interesting test of our ability as a Church to grapple successfully with one of the world's most difficult' problems, which has been created by the cruelly rapid change of environment and influx of European vices and superstitions superadded to our own. We arc not dealing with a segregated race, nor with a decadent people, but with a virile race which, though increasing in numbers, yet ean have no future as a distinct race, and must inevitably merge with our own. In some districts the two races have already co-mingled to a surprising degree, and the present practical equality in educational advantages and rights of citizenship cannot but assist that development. Many of the educated natives and half-castes possess social gifts of a high order, and even your most exclusive social circles receive them as equals. These are the vanguard —the masses follow slowly some very slowly indeed and painfully, but none the less surely. The Church must not be stampeded by any seeming immediate needs into any policy that does not lead towards our ultimate goal.

"Many of the movements towards higher social and spiritual life are heavily handicapped and sometimes distinctly misdirected by the influence of European and American superstitions and false social standards. These' influences make their impact upon the mind of the rising generation chiefly through pernicious literature and subtly demoralising pictures produced to supply the demand of a sex-erazed and excitement loving public. "While co-operating heartily with those who are seeking to minimise these evil influences, we are giving our best endeavours to constructive work, and if those whom God has blessed with material goods would provide us with the cash for the purchase of larger stocks and equipment, we could satisfy the hunger for literature and pictures by supplying types of such that would gradually purify and strengthen the social and spiritual uleals of the Maori people.

"All movements that tend to separate Maori and Pakeha into separate camps are fundamentally wrong and wise leaders will not favour them however tempting they may appear to men of short vision."