SOME CRITICISMS

Te Ao Hou, March 1960, Page 26

SOME CRITICISMS If I might be permitted to criticise one minor point I would question the value of the plenary sessions as they were conducted at the conference. I feel sure that it was not the intention of the organisers that these sessions should become, as

some of them did, opportunities to re-word statements, to split hairs over the exact meaning of phrases and to link up split infinitives. I think the worst offenders in this respect were members of the 1939 group—which of course includes myself. I feel too that notwithstanding the undoubted interest of addresses given on subjects outside the conference's scope, it would have been more valuable to have heard views on Maori topics, perhaps papers given by one or other of those attending on matters about which they had special knowledge. In my mind the most valuable address was that given by Mrs Penfold. How I would have enjoyed listening to, say, Mr Carroll or Mr Pei Jones or Mr Morrison or Dr Winiata or Dr Biggs or Dr Metge speaking on some subject connected with the Maori people but not on the agenda of the conference! These apart—and they are only minor quibbles—I am wholehearted in my praise for those who organised the conference and for the way they worked to ensure that it was a success. Mr Morrison was an admirable director. His assistants, in particular, the organising secretary, Mr M. Te Hau, were deserving of the highest praise. And congratulations too, to those who prepared the valuable data papers. The organisations which supported the conference financially, and in particular the Maori community of Auckland, may be assured that dividends in the form of enlightened and inspired work for the Maori people will repay them a thousandfold. The conference is over. It can never be repeated in exactly the same manner. But the spirit which we all felt, the strengthening of will we all experienced, the knowledge we all gained will help and inspire us for our people's sake in the years to come. Mr Waka Clarke, now in charge of the Auckland Maori Community Centre was one of the delegates at the 1939 table. The deputy chairman of conference, Mr S. R. Morrison, director of Adult Education for the Auckland district, is listening in to the senior discussion group (right). To the left of him is Mr Charlie Davis, chairman of the marae committee at Ngaruawahia.