MAORI MEMORIES

Wairarapa Daily Times, 10 December 1937, Page 5

MAORI MEMORIES

(By J.H.S. for “The Daily Times.”) CONVERTING SAVAGES. Under the influence of British statesmen who knew nothing of the circumstances or character of the Maoris, or of tlieir sole right of ownership in the land, laws were made depriving them of all such rights. Not only were they deprived of personal and political standing; but many of us who were quite ignorant of their social and moral claims, openly referred to them as ‘ ‘ damned niggers. ” There is something wanting’in the Christianity and civilisation of a people who treat the victims of their intrusion in this manner. Uninvited, we came, and cordially we were welcomed; but to be excluded socially and morally as well as politically, was .an indignity to which no right-thinking people could' submit. The Bishop of New Zealand made vigorous protests, but without avail.

In imitation rather than rivalry of our political assemblies, they sought to proclaim the Maori Icing, a movement which we unjustly and unwisely regarded in the light of hostility. Sir George Grey, the Bishop of New Zealand, the clergy, and the general government, treated the Maoris as equals, and in this attitude they were greatly aided by the original settlers, who had every reason to be grateful to the Maoris. On the other hand the mass of the people treated them as inferiors. . . In every Maori village where, m their primitive days, infidelity was unknown, scores of half-caste children were abandoned by their white fathers, to be the care of neither race. In the face .of this and many other introduced evils, the Christian clergy were broken-heart-ed. The disgraced mothers give food and poor clothing; but their dishonour destroys all love and respect for our race.