Wide Knowledge of Maoritanga

Te Ao Hou, December 1963, Page 3

Wide Knowledge of Maoritanga His love of Maori culture dates from his early childhood. He speaks Maori fluently, and is an expert carver. Many people have said that there must be few Maoris today who have as wide a knowledge of Maoritanga as Mr McEwen. When the standard Maori dictionary was revised a few years ago, Mr McEwen was secretary of the committee responsible for this. For some years he has been president of the Polynesian Society. He joined the Maori Affairs Department in 1935 after having worked for a private law firm in Palmerston North, and from 1941 to 1944 he served in the Army. In 1946 he gained his LL.B. at Victoria University. He returned to the Maori Affairs Department, and was appointed research officer in 1948. He became assistant controller of the trusts, titles and claims division in 1950. In 1953 Mr McEwen was appointed Resident Commissioner in Niue Island and in 1956 he became assistant secretary for Island Territories. In 1958 he was appointed Secretary for Island Territories. He Mr J. M. McEwen. speaks Rarotongan and the language of Niue, and has as well some knowledge of Samoan. He has a deep interest in all things Polynesian, both past and present. At 48, he is one of the youngest men ever to be appointed Secretary for Maori Affairs.