The Wanganui Chronicle THURSDAY, JUNE 2, 1949 “THE GRAVE OF MY PEOPLE”

Wanganui Chronicle, 2 June 1949, Page 4

The Wanganui Chronicle THURSDAY, JUNE 2, 1949 “THE GRAVE OF MY PEOPLE”

'J'TIE degradation of the Maori race as a result of current conditions is causing grave concern to the best members of that race and to fiose among the Pakeha who have at heart the real interests of this race. Sir Humphrey O’Leary’s observation that 25 per cent, of the prison population is represented by Maoris is a terrible indictment, not of the Maoris but of those who have had the Maori race in their charge. For the past fifteen years the Maoris have been the wards of fine Labour Government. How has this Government discharged its duty? Before drawing a conclusion on this point let other witnesses besides the Chief justice of New Zealand be heard! That great personality, the greatest personality among the Maoris today, Bishop Bennett, did not mince his words When speaking at t'ue Maori Synod of the Wellington diocese. He said that “some action would have to be taken to stop this terrible tide that was overwhelming the Maori people. There would have to be effective assistance by the Government, as well as by the Churt'h. Generally, it appeared that Maori morals were at a low ebb and if the position became worse there was dange” of a colour line in New Zealand and the utter demoralisation of the Maori race.”

This statement is of the utmost importance for it touches upon a very difficult issue, that of racial discrimination. Hitherto it has been the proud boast of Ne w Zealand t'nat there has been 'no colour bar in evidence in this country. This was no accident, nor was it due to any particular magnanimity on the part of fine pakeha population; it was due to the fact that in his tribal organisation the Maori was subject to discipline from his own people. His conduct was the subject of censure from his own race, where it was to the detriment of the mana of the Maori. Even highly placed Maoris were not free from such censure when they failed to maintain an appropriate standard of personal conduct. Why was it possible for the Maori, on coming intc contact with the good and bad of European civilisation, to sustain his mana with the Pakeha and so avoid tlft stigma of a colour bar? Because in the days of rum and whisky trading the Maoris themselves had adequate evidence of the disturbing effects of alcohol upon their race. When the great chiefs agreed to the opening up of the King Country to settlement they stipulated that alcoholic liquors should be kept out of fine King Country. They did this because they had been taught by experience that the Maori was not ready to live in company with drink. The law in respect to the entry of liquor into the King Country was modified in 1910 and it cannot be claimed that the pakeha population was under’ any real handicap in respect to access to liquor in the King Country. For one thing bootlegging was never a profitable occupation in that area. Speaking in fine House of Representatives during last session, the Hon. Mr. Tirikatene, Member of the Executive Council representing the Maori race, said: “There has been a general demand by the Maori people that they be given the same rights as the rest of the New Zealand citizens in relation to licensing laws. We may not all have the strength of mind t'nat our parents would desire us to possess so that we may know when to say “Yes” and when to say “No.” It is all a matter of education in the broad sense, and when we take into account the progress in education that the Maori people have achieved in the last twelve years, we can with confidence believe that the Maoris are able to'stand up to jfneir responsibilities. 1 contend that the Maoris should be granted precisely the same privileges as those enjoyed by other citizens of this country, and they should also be subjject to the same penalties.” Tie later said that there may be “some who may abuse fine privilege granted to them, and this Bill will be the acid test and will show how many are deserving of the rights of citizenship and how many are not.” Against that statement place this testimony of Bishop Bennett w'lio referred in Synod “to the terrible tragedy caused by beer drinking among Maoris.” There is the answer to the vaunted “progress in education that the Maori people have achieved in the last twelve years” spoken of by Mr. Tirikatene. That Bishop Bennett should be,, so moved by the state of the Maori race today is not surprising, for the records of the criminal courts bear terrible testimony of the degradation caused by drinking among them and recent legislation under the guise of raising the Maori to the same legal level as that of the Pakeha has increased the temptation to which the Maoris are exposed. The Prime Minister has expressed his sympathy with Bishop Bennett on the question of crime among the Maori people. Mr. Fraser said also that Mr. Tirikatene was also distressed by what seemed to be an exceptional excess of law breaking. Some of it was very serious on the part of younger Maoris. Mr. Fraser s apologia is in marked distinction to the statement made by Mr. Tirikatene during the course of the debate on the Licensing Amendment Bill. But this is no new phase in the history of the Maori people. That fine old pioneer, Rod McDonald, in his reminiscences entitled “Te Hekenga” (p. 72) wrote: “With the spread of drinking, the old-time honesty which had characterised the Maori disappeared, but for this drink was only partly responsible. It used to be quite safe to lend a Maori any sum r ne asked for, confident that he would not ask for more than he could repay, and as soon as he received his first rent or earned a cheque, his first concei’n was to repay the debt. Low pakehas, fine only sort who sought his society, taught the Maori much of their own loose code, but drink undoubtedly did its part. “Old Magere, the Moaupoko Chieftainess, as she looked upon the foundations being dug for the Levin Hotel many years after, summed up the situation not inaueurately, ‘They are digging the grave of my people,’ she said with grim prophesy.” Old Magere the Chieftainess would have said the same thing to Mr Fraser, Prime Minister of New Zealand, and Mr. Tirikatene. Minister for Maori Affairs in Mr. Fraser’s Cabinet, on the passing of last year’s licensing legislation to extend drinking temptation to the Maoris. Those who support the legislation of Messrs. Fraser and Tirikatene will also share in their responsibility for digging deeper and wider the grave of the Maori people.