A WEEK-END IN AUGUST

Te Ao Hou, December 1960, Page 13

A WEEK-END IN AUGUST A view of the South Island Young Maori Leaders' Conference, Christchurch, 19th–21st August. BY ROWLEY HABIB When I was approached by Te Ao Hou to write on the South Island Young Maori Leaders' Conference, I felt at first that there were others far more qualified to do so. But Te Ao Hou assured me that impressions were what was required, and I felt that perhaps I was as entitled to these as anyone else. So I asked myself these questions: What did the meeting mean to me? What had I learnt from this packed week-end? One thing I knew, that it had been one of the experiences of my life. If anyone had in his hand the notes of the opening speech by Sir Eruera Tirikatene, he would have something to treasure. I believe that in this speech were most of the answers we are seeking to the Maori problems of today and of the future. And I should like to say what a deep impression the whole Tirikatene family made on me. They seem to me an example of what the modern Maori should be. They must surely be the answer to what Sir Apirana Ngata asked of the modern Maori. “The future Maori,” wrote Sir Apirana. “should stand firm upon the best of his Maori mana and at the same time, reach out for the best of what the European has to offer him.” I looked at this family. I saw Miss Whetu Tirikatene open her lecture with a Maori wai, in which her father and mother joined, with a dignity to make any Maori proud. Here, it seemed to me, was the best of the two cultures, blended to make one person, the modern Maori. I was glad to hear from Mr Lewin that the Department of Maori Affairs was working hard towards a solution of Maori lands. I think that the Maori in the future can look with more hope towards their complex situation. I was also glad to hear Mr Lewin's comments on integration and especially intermarriage between the two races, and pleased to learn that he favoured it. I have thought much about it, and know many, both Maori and Pakeha, who are against it. I know what worries them: that the half or quarter caste will have no place. Rubbish! I am a half-caste and know what it means. The Maori has a natural warmth, and his first wish is to cling to his people, and make those of part Maori parentage wholly one of themselves. I agree with Mr Lewin that when you have two races working side by side, there will be, there must be, intermarriage. Nature, after all, will ignore creeds and conventions for her purposes. Mr Rex Austin, in a round-table session, spoke for a lot of us when he said, “looking round this table, I would say that intermarriage is working all right.” Very few of us at the conference could claim full Maori inheritance. We sat there in many colours and variety of feature. Yet we were all Maoris and all New Zealanders. I was very interested in the District Commissioner for Apprenticeship, Mr Thomas, in his address on apprenticeship and employment. This is to me the bigger problem now, and ahead, for the Maori people. Why do so many Maoris leave their apprenticeships before they are completed? The air was electric with concern, with questions, answers, questions. What's wrong with us? Are we below the intelligence of our pakeha brothers? What can we do? Mr Thomas mentioned that some firms are prejudiced against Maoris. This is true, as I know. But often I feel the Maori is to blame. I see them in Dunedin, work today, holiday tomorrow. It is the same in the boarding-houses. One Maori misbehaves and the whole race suffers. And let me be honest: the behaviour of some Maoris makes them very bad risks in some boarding houses. But Pakeha prejudice exists also. Why should a person be labelled German, say, and judged for his whole race because of Hitler and the war? Why should my race then, be judged because of the bad behaviour of a single member of it? We must all, surely, learn to look at all men as individuals, as human souls. Dr Rina Moore's lecture was a revelation to me. I was most disconcerted to learn that the rate of Maori crime is so high. What can we do? Visit

prisons, house some lost soul for a few nights, find him a job after he has been wandering the streets for a fortnight or sleeping in the park at nights. We can do all this and feel pleased with our work, but is it all necessary? Should we have to do it? Must we visit a prison to find most of the inmates are Maoris? Surely prevention is better than cure. And I believe that in Dr Moore's lecture lay some of the solutions to Maori problems today. We must get to them before they start, in the homes, where, as Dr Moore so justly said, most of the trouble starts. Finally, I would like to mention the thrill and delight I had in meeting the other delegates to the conference. It cheered me immensely to learn that we had so many intelligent and serious men and women in our race. And I would like to say how encouraging I found the enthusiasm of our pakeha brothers. We are neither deserted nor disregarded. As long as we try to help ourselves, we will have the support and blessing of our fellow New Zealanders. They are good men. At the Conference, at least half of the lecturers were Europeans, and some of the leading citizens of Christchurch came to speak to us and wish us well; the Mayor of Christchurch was one, the Professor of Education another. The Department of Adult Education gave us more than their share of service, and the University allowed us to use their students' hostel and their building for our lectures. All told, I had a feeling of oneness, of co-operation, of combined effort from both sides. I would like to pass that encouragement on to my fellow countrymen. The boat is launched, and there is a great stir about its water-line as it turns to head for the open sea. I have finished. But like others, I am asking the question: What are we going to do about it? Yes, we know where the trouble lies, and we know how we might be able to overcome it. But are we just going home to our jobs to carry on in the same old way? Tell ourselves that we are all right and to heck with the rest? So: What are we going to do about it? Kia kaha, kia ora. Official photograph of the 1960 South Island Young Maori Leaders' Conference. Sir Eruera and Lady Tirikatene, centre, seated; His Worship the Mayor of Christchurch, Mr George Manning, third from right; Mr D. W. Rutherford, Director of Adult Education, University of Canterbury and Director of the Conference, second from right. (Green and Hahn Photograph, Christchurch).