DISTRESS AMONG THE MAORIS

Waikato Times, Volume LVII, Issue 7005, 9 May 1906, Page 2

DISTRESS AMONG THE MAORIS

In conversation with the Rev. H. A Hawkins, Anglican missionary to the Maoris, a representative of the Waikato Times elicited some information with regard to the distress which has been widely reported as prevalent among the Natives. Mr Hawkins, whose work takes him into the homes of the Maoris in Waikato and the far North, said that the potato crops had proved a complete failure, and although the Natives were not actually starving, yet the shortage of their usual food supplies was shown by the fact that turnips now form a very large proportion of the diet in most of the settlements. The young and able - bodied men are to a great extent in employment. In many cases this involves living away from the settlements, aud one may sometimes see Maori men who appear to have plenty of money to sp->nd. "It is easy come, easy go," said the missionary, " and you know we ought not to expect the Maori to be a very much better man than the pakeha." Mr Hawkins added that there would undoubtedly be very hard times for the Natives during the winter months, and especially for the women and children and the old people. However, they had their representatives in the House, and he was sure the Government would readily take any necessary action. It was understood that a large number of Maoris would be put on the railway works. If private charity were neede I. Mr Hawkins had uo doubt it could be organised.

Mr F. H. Phillips, interpreter to toe Legislative Coui.cil, and supervisor for tuning the Maori census, writes to the Wellington Times as follows:—" iha Mantis throughout the North Island at e in dire need of assistance regarding a supply of potatoes for the coming winter months. The ravages of potato blight have been so destructive that areas of five to seven acres planted last season have in most cases yielded nothing, or sciicely more than an ordinary handful of eatable tubers. This places the Maoris in great distress, as the potato is their staple article of food. It means also the diminishing of their pork supply, as the porkers, too, are "hiefly reared on this to the Maori, all important article of diet. Reliable information has been received with respect to the scarcity of the potato in tl e kiangas along the west coast of this Island, and there is a cry from a number of tribes appealing for help ere the winter is down upon them. Apart from the potat •, other crops, such as pumpkins, Narrows, maize, etc , have suffered grievous 'lnstruction by some kind of blight and unseasonable frost. Spraying the crops with blightkilling mixtures has had no satisfactory results. A number of Maoris are . 1 ready without any of the above-mentioned vegetables, and the high price of dour tea, and sugar in outlandish places makos it extremely awkward for the Maoris. Besides, the Maori cannot reign long without his potato. He enjoys what he calls pakeha food for a short time only, and he soon frets for the taewa. It is rumoured that some Maoris have already resorted to fern and to berries as of subsistence. Something should be done to supply them with eating seed potatoes before the approach of winter and spring. It is suggested that what was intended to alleviate sufferings caused by the San Francisco calamity might be turned to good account in this direction.''