Tribal Loyalty Limiting Maori Outlook

Waiapu Church Gazette, Volume 11, Issue 9, 1 August 1945, Page 7

Tribal Loyalty Limiting Maori Outlook

Mr Rainbow's Views

In connection with the "questionnaire submitted by the National Council of Churches on Maori problems the Mayor of Hastings, Mr. A. I. Rainbow has submitted the following comment:—. Question 1. So far as my own experience goes, I have not come m contact with any hostile feeling from tne Maori people, nor do I thing that amongst the thinking portion of the pakeha race there is any corresponding feeling of hostility. There is, however, I know, criticism on both sides over the Maoris' common lack of understanding of financial obligations. On the one hand, the pakeha m many cases gives unwise credit facilities and no doubt m many cases has charged a greater price for any particular article on account of what lie considers to be the financial risk. The result of these transaction, which are many, is that the pakeha says that the Maori has no moral sense of his .financial obligations and the Maori accuses the pakeha of charging him too high a price. I think 90 per cent, of the hosility between the two races has finance as its root cause. This would seem to me to be an inevitable stage m the' transition of the Maori from his oldtime communal customs to what is; to him, the complicated pakeha system. I believe, however, that there is progressive improvement m this matter, but that it must take more than two generations before there is complete understanding m this matter between the two peoples. , Question 2. I believe that tribal loyalty, with all its virtues m the past, is m danger of becoming a deterrent to the advancement of the Maori race as a whole, at present and m the future. From my limited experience, it would seem that the Maori as an individual is prone to take a view of important matters which is . restricted by his allegiance to his particular tribe or hapu, irrespective of the effect of that view on the Maori race as a whole. Is. not s this again something which, by tradition over generations, has been a part of the duty of ; the individual Maori member of any particular tribe? it .is necessary to hasten m every manner possible the pride of the individual Maori as a member of, the Maori race rather than, as a member of a

particular ' tribe; But it /would seem that this will be a slow "educative process which, cannot be hurried, and it can only be advanced by the local Maori leaders themselves.

Question 3.

I feel very definitely that for a long time to come the Maori, as far' as r is possible," should be served spiritually by a member of his own race. In the past the pakeha who ministered to the Maoris lived with them, spoke their language and understood, as far as a pakeha can, their points of view. I think that -a more frequent exchange of ministers would-be an. advantage m many districts. By that I mean that the Maori minister should take a service m the pakeha church and vice versa more often than is the practice at present; but I cannot think that the pakeha who does not speak the language and has not made a study of the Maori people is competent to really assist them m their spiritual needs. «

Question 4. It must be remembered that pakehas are generally grouped m towns, cities and larger separate communities than is the Maori, with the result that the attendance of pakehas at church meetings is made comparatively easy. The churches are not, only- set m a handy position, but m normal times there are facilities such as cars, trams, etc., which make the attendance of the individual pakeha very much easier. Again, m those churches there is regularity, whilst m the scattered Maori communities the minister makes irregular visits. only.

Again, the pakeha has the choice of morning or evening services, and m churches where Holy Communion is celebrated he quite often has three opportunities during the one day of attending his church. >This means that he cart, and does, spend his Sunday 'm working about his own home or m some sport or another before or after he has attended . the church service. In the- scattered Maori communities this is, of course, not possible.

Whilst I am appreciative of the immense difficulties . involved, it seems to me .that any improvement which is contemplated must embrace the children, and I do make the plea that the 'teaching of these young neop.le should appeal more to their hands' and to their eyes" than to their immature minds. '

Question 5.

I think that the question asked m No. 2 has some bearing oh this problem. i?he Maori, both male and female, suddenly . transported to a toyini or city has not the opportunity of the pakehal for congenial corii-

;pani(?nship^ and ;'k& many of them, through' ;'sh'§er loneliness, develop harmful : companionship, aAds habits. If there v could be developed m each community some common .meeting place for members of the Maori race where they could get companionship and recreation: and, through ; their own organisation, make contact with the better class of pakeha, much good would result; I have m- mind the Ngati Porieke^ which, I- understand, has filled a great want m Wellington and has been the means of bringing together a number of Maori people irrespective of the individual's tribe; Question 6. •■■■■_•:■:. v . This, is a very big question indeed, and" one on which I do not feel-quali-fied to offer an opinion which would be worth while; but I will make the following, observations: — I am aware that it has been stated that Social Security has accentuated m a very marked degree the Maori's drift towards town life. V ; . It is, however, common knowledge that a great number of Maori families were living m destitution ;and in conditions which were. not.. creditable either to them or to the pakeha, and conditions- which were definitely harmful to the health of the children. If the payment of Social Security has given the children of the Maori face' a better start, then that is a definite advantage to be set off against the very severe criticism of the effect of. Social Security on the Maori race as a whole. That there is some ground for thiscritcism there appears to be little doubt, and it is common knowledge that a number of Maori male workers earn good money at seasonal occupations during the season; - that this money is spent as it is earned— portion of it m ways that are harmful— owing to the fact that the Maori knows that he can get Social Security for. himself arid his family during the off season. . The Maori's attitude to Social Security is .likely, 'to b£. another indication of. his transitional period, because it approximates very closely the old communal. way of livirig, m which it Was common for him to use what he had- without much thought for the future and when it was gone to rely on the communal system to see him through, knowing that it worked both days and that he; m turn, might be called upon to support another member of his race when the latter was iij difficulties.

Question 7- - ' > : It seems to rrie that the questionnaire covers the hiqst important matters at |he rhoment; but I ani particularly glacftb khow ttfat' a Maori SubGpmmission of the National Council oi Churches is being charged with the preparation of k' report oh ; so importiant a matter;': ; v • " /