REPLY TO "EUROPEAN."

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 568, 24 July 1909, Page 10

REPLY TO "EUROPEAN."

DR. BUOiCj M.P:,'- ."TAKES -OFF THE ■ GLOVibS." . y/;.' Sir, —I.must apologise:&. "European" that a sojourn in tliei backblocksi.of .the roadless north, Vwhere-. even.; Tee Dominion, docs' not. .perietratoj ■ has -delayed my-; answer .to his letter- of. July ,10,.' "European"—l regret 'that.-inwjrtod -.commas btiyo..etill to.be used me.-too; much: in iacceptiiig my. humble orema-rks .as. tho, 'bost-v.au'd; strongest the '■Maori 'can put -.forward.- His deduction seems •to be... founded on the assurance: and :eg'otism-: of ; the unknown. sniper, • who,-. lying concoaled' behind a-: nom-de-pluinc, iinaginos because he has 'drawn a- chance shot thatho has;'vanquished- the: other' side, V horse,; foot, and'artillory, and gloats somewhat pro-,-' maturely.'-'' Had "European" 1 kept what he (terms '"merely., incidental"" out of his first letter,- and- : - discussed in" 'affair,'"'unbiased: spirit what; he' now; professes is; tho boileddowu'extract' of that communication, namely "the' Native' lands should bo utilised," .hq would not have had subsequently to draw upon' his> -imagination: for- a : discourse on • Maori • oratory l and' ; literary' advertising." Also his' -misrepresentationmy'attitudo : might not havo been added to his other miscpu-, ceptions. ' - V ' ...

Of tho r original, proposition, that Maori lands must bo utilised, there can bo no doubt. It is highly ■ desirable in . the interests 'of -the Dominion, and- Maori .public has,- and is, 'being along these'. lines. .;,But... whcn,i "European," who now,*,-professes, he is a great friend of the .Maori,. deliberately' ■ makes ,vaguo.. , general, charges-about.'-the faults, and shortcomings of ~ tho race and their l and,-states that tho remaining Maori lands must bo jtaken over ; for the Europeans regardless of i\vhat_ happens to tho'Maori, then wo must join issue on theso "incidentals," For the very reasons that "European" enumerates, by reason of my birth, education, and position, I. would -.not' bo-worthy of ,nly'lnothor's ; blood'if I did not protest against tho cold;blooded, heartless, : and .unjust tone which porvades his .letter.. It may bo that "Euro' : pean" was carried away " by ' a temporary littleness of spirit: to dcpreciato tho Maori ;and cast aspersion's upon their leaders,--and ;so wander from his main 'point.''.!'- Wo learn ■to our surprise that he is oiir friohd.V He misrepresents us for our soul's good, or perhaps our lack pf comprehension is duo to the complexity .of 1 tfur'/English language;' •I- would remind our. professing friend that itiill becomes ono whose neo-Jithio ancestors had the good fortune to pass through tho ■mud ' huts, M'otten food, painting Vvith woad and- -twig- coraclo or: balsar stago in Europe : with . its : geographical ' and'- 'mineral iulv-an- ; tagesj to jeer: at tho Maori dug-out canool ■The dug-out canoe at loast crossed ithousandri :ofmiles.''of • ocean " when- civilised* Europoj with superior • knowledge and superior vessols. wore afraid, to yenturo -out. of. sight of. laid.;' A trip- to- tho' Taj- Mahal does not givo oiio special insight-into the hearts'of •those who' inhabit raupo huts;-neither does its constitute onofan infallible authority upou .■Miori'affairs." ■ " '•

That the valuo of the land has been improved by tlio European is self-evident. It I is unnecessary for-us to., tendorVhim our' gratitude, for ho lias well repaid' hiinßolf for/ his labour, as is his custom. "European"' takes no crodit US himself for the climat-j, but there arc many oi bin raco who condcmn tho deforestation whkih .HalS'.ahd is. 'bringing, about climatic cHangcs. Hut this is- "incidental.'' Tho advancing wavo of * Maori public opinion is being .guided ,by jtheir lenders and representatives, into 1 channels whero it may work, tho .greatest'amount of good-to the race, and is not being opposed by any would-bo Canutes, as "European" would lead tho publio to infer. .

In conclusion, if "European" will comb out .of :his rifle-pit and' sta-nd. up beneath tho shining mil, whero I can see tho ;ta'ttoo lines upon hi? faco ; (perhaps this is .unpalatable Maori metaphor), will leave this' heights of .vaguo generalisation to descend to concrete facts' and specific ..instances,, and holp; to build, up a noble edifice by wholesome adviqe and. assistance. instead. of : dynamiting by unjust criticism and misrepresentation, I will' believe that. ho is not a! political. agitator stabbing in the; dark,. .but' a friend: extending, to "mo . and jny race the greatest servico that '- one '.man can extend to another."—l am, otc., TE RANGIHIROA.July 20.