PATH TOO EASY

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 9, Issue 39, 30 January 1946, Page 5

PATH TOO EASY

FUTURE OF THE MAORI RACE

MAJOR R. VERCOE’S VIEWS

“l have one great fear Avith regard to the future of the Maori race,” said Major R. Vercoe Avlien responding to the warm speeches of Avelcome extended by the Matatua (Eastern Bay of Plenty tribes) to some 80 members of the Maori Bat r talion at Poroporo over the weekend “and that is that our path is being made too easy for us. The easy an|t comfortable living of the average Maori today may rob him of his native self-reliance and independence. In the past Ave have Avon our way by our ability to light our oAvn battles and for that reason have earned our reputation among the peoples of the Avorld. The men who have re r turned from overseas have had tr. face the hard things of life and I hope that they have been sufficiently reinforced to choose not always the easiest course but rather that which is tlie most honourable. Only m that Aviiy can they bring about the furtherance of their native land and themselves.”

Major Vercoe referred to the number of Pakehas present and said that the Maoris were proud of their association Avith the magnificent lighting men of the Dominion avlio had earned equal glory, and without whom the Maori Battalion could never have accomplished its feats of gallantry for Avliich it Avas uoav so well knoAvn. Their association on the field of battle lie -hoped Avould further cement the ties between the two races.