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orestalls Racial Bitterness New Zealand's Native Policy an Example to the World History of a Fine Race Approaches a Crisis By MARJORIE HACKETT.
existence of a high cultural to European civilisation. Exstandard. Members of tribes perts on the Maori question see The Maoris of New Zealand observed a definite code of laws, in this course the only possible are a fine race of people. Pos- especially within the pa, or na- hope of a satisfactory solution. sessing keen intellect they com- tive settlement. Communal Such a development implies a bine an attractive physical ap- life and ownership was the rule satisfactory co-operation on the pearance with a natural charm and authority was set up and re- part of the whole community, of manner. The coming or the but the long tradition of pride Of all native races cognised. they have proved the most adapt- Europeans meant the imposition in the achievements of the Maori able to European civilisation; of foreign customs and laws race should serve to inspire the hence, New Zeaalnd has for long upon the Maori without any at- necessary co-operation. enjoyed the reputation of having tempt being made to adjust his The outstandingly successful solved her native problem in mentality to this new way of life. such a manner that European The result was a period of dis- men of the Maori race have all Te and Maori New Zealanders live pute and war, with the inevitable followed this third course. defeat of the more amicably side by side. primitive Rangi Hiroa (Sir Peter Buck), director of at Bishop Museum race. To the casual observer this reFather Te Awhitu, the putation appears to be justified For some years following these Honolulu, first Maori priest who was orand statistics support the popu- wars the Maoris were considered dained in 1945, Apirana larly -held belief that the Maori to be a dying race of people, and Ngata, member ofSir Parliament has received more than generous the provisions made for them- for many years, are examples of treatment. But it is one thing reserve lands, fishing rights and Maoris who have retained to solve such a delicate and in- rents from certain Maori lands three and held by the Crown-were con- a justifiable pride of race while tricate problem on paper attaining honours in the Euroquite a different matter to solve, sidered adequate. pean sphere. Father Te Awhitu in actuality, the sentiments, traBut, contrary to general expec- refers with conscious dignity to ditions and racial characteristics tation, the Maoris commenced to the Maori race as "my people," of a native people so that they increase steadily and over the and the Maori is honoured, not Father Le Aivitu, first Maori priest (ordained become a corporate whole in a past fifty years they have actuchanges traditional racial greetings with subdued, in the priest European community. ally doubled their numbers. This Legally the two races are on a increase is apparently due to the It is unquestionable that Chris- standing of the Maori mentality ed by nuns in different centres footing of social and political reduction of the death-rate tianity has a vital part to play and they speak Maori even bet- of New Zealand. At Waitaruke equality but, before such equal- through an improved knowledge in the reconciliation to the Maori ter than they do English. the Marist Sisters work in an ity can be set down as genuine, of proper health conditions and mind of two apparently contrasettlement of Maori famiPerhaps the best augury for actual it is only fair to examine this a control of tuberculosis diseases, dictory cultures,. Both the Calies, and their influence on Maori equality from the Maori view- as well as the fact that the tholic and Protestant Churches the Catholic Maori is to be seen girls is shown in the profession of The third generation point. Maoris do not practice birth - have long realised this fact and in the educational work among recent years of five Maori the Maori race is now showing control. At all events they are have made an important contri. this race conducted by priests in in an Order founded by the the results of European educa- no longer a dying race, but are bution to the welfare of the na- and nuns. For many years a nuns, present Bishop of Auckland for tion. In addition, Maori soldiers multiplying rapidly at a time tive race. Rural School, St. Maori In fact, the only Catholic Sisters. The fact visited when the European community really satisfactory during the recent war educational Peter's, has been maintained for Maori girls can embrace that the and their is failing to reproduce itself in system for the Maori has been in Maori boys who receive here inoverseas countries ideals and accept the sacrifices broadened outlook has caused sufficient numbers to maintain its Church schools. In this, the Ca- struction in agriculture, farming of religious life is a positive a more critical methods them to assume and handicrafts, as well present status. There is every tholic Maori has the advantage, of the success of their eduattitude towards the treatment probability that eventually the for he lives a religion which is as a good primary education in proof cation. accorded their own people. Maoris will assume numbers part of his daily life and, by essential school subjects. This The Maoris consider they have which will considerably increase being first and foremost a Ca- training is an extension of the I might point out here that all been forced through circumstan- their importance. rather real tholic, he has already bridged Maori approach to life Any colleges ces into an inferior social and grievances which they then pos- the gap which separates the two than an imposition of alien cus- Catholic schools and have always been open to Maorl of In point economic position. sess will attain proportions which civilisations. To the Protestant toms. The success of this manfact there is much to justify may well create a colour problem Maori, on the other hand, his re- ner of education, in the hands of pupils, who receive the same their criticism, but this does not with its consequential racial bit- ligion retains to a certain extent the Mill Hill Fathers, has result- treatment as any other pupils. imply any deliberate discrimina- terness. ed in the production of a fine This mixing of the two races in an alien and superficial aspect. type of Maori; many ex-pupils their school days might be retion against, or neglect of, the From the For some time have beginning, there work have become leaders of their garded as the best preparation Maoris by successive New ZeaTo secure been three courses open to the among the Catholic Maoris has people and have assisted the mis- for life together in later years, land Governments. the adjustment of two alien peo- Maori. He can retain his tradi- been largely in the hands of sioners in their work by acting and with individual pupils it has certainly helped the adaptation ples so that the minority, pos- tional way of life, his language, foreign missionaries. The first as catechists. and Catholic missionaries to come to to the European outlook. But sessing the inferior culture, do his culture, and his arts, This year St. Peter's was ex- it is felt that some large educawere French not suffer in the process would live, a museum piece, quite apart New Zealand priests who performed Herculean tended to embrace a secondary tional institution essentially be a well-nigh impossible task from the European community. Catholic their own is necessary to arouse for a pioneering country to ac- In this way he would be doomed tasks, caring for their scattered college, so that now develop hieve in one or even two genera- to extinction as surely as was flocks over vast tracts of almost boys may receive their entire sufficient interest and unpassable land. Sleeping in education in a Catholic atmos- pride among the Catholic Maoris, It is to -day, after more the moa, the giant wingless bird tions. the open which or in friendly phere. once inhabited particularly Zeapas, Apart from New forda if selected these people are than 100 years of close contact ing rivers and riding or walking number, who will be prepared for to maintain their status as a with European civilisation, that land. will race. the Maoris have to make this adOn the other hand, he can shed through large sections of native the professions and who bush, they went about their have a sufficiently solid Catholic justment if New Zealand is to the Maori way of life and be- work of conversion. They spoke training to enable them to withSeveral years ago, Professcr avoid the creation of a colour come completely Europeanised. problem. Many have already followed this the Maori language,, lived like stand thy- moral dangers of ci*V Hornell, a Swedish visitor to Maoris and life, learned to think like other types of Catholic New Zeaalnd, wrote: "I have visTo explain the present-day course, but the majority have de- Maoris. In this way their work Maori youth will continue to re- ited no country in which the Maori it is necessary to refer veloped a sense of inferiority had long-lasting effects and was ceive here a model education. white race has spoken with so when they have realised that hampered only briefly to the history of the race. through lack of Agriculure is taught and studied much and understanding Anthropologists place the Maoris their intellect and education can- numbers in the missionary ranks with the purpose of direct ap. of the respect original inhabitants. When at the head of native races, but not alter their racial origin and, and an acute shortage of funds. plication on lands possessed by I ask the Europeans how they ashamed of their Maori birth, it must be remembered that at The Maori place tribes. The boys are en- like the Maoris. they speak highof these early no time in their known history they have become "poor" whites. French missionaries couraged to practice the old ly of them. has been I have been in did this race come in contact The third and only satisfact- largely taken to -day by the Maori art of carving and some China, Japan, India, and other with the Christian tradition. ory course open to the Maori is Dutch Mill Hill Fathers who, in beautiful examples of this countries, art but nowhere else have Their folk lore and mythology for him to retain what is good in co-operation with New Zealand have been made by the pupils. I heard this." Such European and the requirement that every his tradition and culture (this in- priests, are performing Father Te Awhitu is an old pupil New Zealanders are possibly in a splenfree man should be able to recite cludes his language) and develop did work among the Maori all sincerity unaware of the large peo- of St. Peter's. his genealogy for as many as a genuine pride of race, and with ple. Like predecessors A similar type of work among numbers of poor, less ambitious sixty generations indicates the this background to adapt himself they have a their thorough under Catholic Maori girls is conduct(Continued on Page 12.) -