Washday at the Pa

Te Ao Hou, March 1965, Page 58

Washday at the Pa by Ans Westra Caxton Press, 10s 6d reviewed by P. J. Ruha From cover to cover the reader is constantly aware of the fine photography of Ans Westra. She has artistically portrayed her subjects. However, one wonders if the author really understands the background of Maori life, necessary for sympathetic and understanding treatment of such subjects. The author has not taken into account the fact that many Maoris still cling to some of the old customs. For example, a child is shown standing on the stove—this is almost a violation of the law of tapu. Presumably this revised version is now intended more for adults' reading than for children's education. If this is so, then the partly revised text in this edition is not really suitable for adult readers. In the publisher's note accompanying this new edition, it is said that in the controversy caused by its original publication, ‘several factors caused the discussion to be confused’. One of these factors, the note says, is that some readers experienced ‘a difficulty in separating artistic truth (photography employed as art) from objective fact’. ‘Washday at the Pa’ was published in the first place as a primary school bulletin for standards two to five. Children of this age-group do not usually note the artistic value of photography. They accept what they see and read as the truth. The publisher's note explains that the word ‘pa’ is loosely applied nowadays. However the title ‘Washday at the Pa’ still seems to be a misnomer, for only one house appears in the text and photographs. From an artistic point of view one cannot fault Ans Westra's fine photography, but the accompanying text needs reconsideration in many of its aspects. Miss Westra must decide for whom her book is intended: for adults, or for children.