PAKEHA MENTALITY

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 7, Issue 21, 5 November 1943, Page 5

PAKEHA MENTALITY

SOME MAORI MUSINGS EDUCATING NEW ZEALANDEKS Shallow thinking is not a racial characteristic of the Maori. He is quick to detect analogies ami to interpret. figurative speech. lie has an inimicable aptitude for expressing profound conclusions with subtle humour. At a large hui recently., where many fashionable Europeans were present, the Maori hostess said to a guest, in that soft, meditative, voice peculiar to the cultured, Maori : "You Pakeha are strange people. A few years ago you used to despise the Maori Avoman because she. smoked tobacco. Now most pakeha women smoke: it is fashionable. Then the Maori, woman wore no stockings. You said, she had no modesty; Avas not decent. Now most pakeha avomen Avear no stockings. Once you laughed at us because we tattooed our lips. You said: Ave Avere ignorant savages. Now most pakeha women tattoo their lips: it i.s fashionable. Before the Maori woman used, to Avear mens' clothes; the shirt, the coat., sometimes the trousers; you scorned hei\ she a\;is only a -Maori. Now many pakeha wear men's clothing, it. is fashionable. When you lirst came to New Zealand, the Maori people, men. Avomen, and children Avould play and swim together naked. They took no notice. You said it was wrong. You taught us to Avear clothes, and you called us heathen. Now many pakeha go together naked. They take no notice— perhaps. They say it is right. You call them nudists. 1 think the pakeha is learning very Avell' from the Maori, but you pakeha are strange people.