"MAORI WOMEN"

White Ribbon, Volume 25, Issue 2, 1 May 1953, Page 6

"MAORI WOMEN"

WELFARE LEAGUE REPORT TO W.C.T.U. CONVENTION "The Maori Women’s Welfare League is a milestone in our history. In 1930 it was just an idea, smouldering in the hearts of our leaders, who were most concerned w’ith our racial welfare. Today it is organised, and in action with 3,000 members.” This was reported by Mrs. J. W. Emery, of Te Kuiti W.C.T.U. No longer separated by parochial tribal sections, Maori womanhood was today being welded together on a national scale wi harmony with the motto, ‘Tatau, tatau,” which meant “W’e are of one house.” ‘‘We as a race do not require coddling,” said Mrs. Emery. “The first duty of the League is to preach the gospel of self help.” The Union’s problems included: (1) Increased population In 1831 there were 36,(XX) Maoris in New Zealand, in 1896 39,000, in 1901 42,000 and today 116.000 —one fifteenth of New Zealand’s population. (2) The extreme youthfulness of the Maori race, 45 per cent, of whom were under 15. A very small percentage were over 63. The Maori took the bottom halt of Social Security and the pakeha the top. This problem included education. Of the 32,000 Maori children attending primary school, only 64 per cent, passed on to secondary school. Of these, only 5 per cent, reached the sixth form and this year seven Maoris w’ere at university. (3) The conc-ntration of Maoris in certain industrial areas. This tended to create a colour bar. (4) Health, which included housing. The death rate of Maori infants under one year v.as four times as great as that of the pakeha. Seven times more Maori children under five died than European, anif ten times more Maoris than pakelias died of tuberculosis. The advent of the pakeha had sw’cpt the Maori people from the hill top pas, where life depended on physical fitness, to congested areas where poor housing, poor sanitation and hygiene, faulty diet and unsuitable clothing had all contributed to undermining their health. (5) Employment: Unskilled trades absorbed most Maoris. Today the nursing profession, the Public Service and trade apprenticeships were claiming increasing numbers. In 1940 only three Maoris entered training college; today there were 120 who had chosen to follow the teaching profession. 'We mothers of the M.W.W.L., as custodians of our children are squarely facing our spiritual and moral responsibilities,” concluded Mrs. Emery. "We accept the privilege of helping to build the character of our race, whose future is so extremely l>ound up with your owrn. “We recall the great Sir Apirana Ngata who, when writing an autograph for a small admirer, wrote, ‘Grow up, little Rea, for the blossoming days of your generation, your hands grasping the pillars of pakeha wisdom to furnish your moral and material needs; your mind luminous with the cultural gems of your ancestors for vour crowning glory; your soul dedicated to God/ to whom all things belong.’ ”