MR. COWAN’S BOOK.

Franklin Times, 3 January 1923, Page 4

MR. COWAN’S BOOK.

(To the Editor,).-.., : of your \kind readers has sent me two ,copies of your compact comprehensive little paper; containing a review! of Mr (Gowan’S first volume of the Maori War History. I should like lo express my gratitude to him. for giving, us such a valuable record of the almost forgotten past. The Dominion has been indeed fortunate in that the work was entrusted to such capable hands. The author has made this subject and the Maori race si life-long study, and there is not one dull page in the 400 contained in the book. : .The author was unduly hur-j ijied over the work, whereas other persons,;\vho have been entrusted with books relating to the Dominion were rewarded handsomely and given every latitude. We need only take one instance where a Mr Izett was paid extravagantly to write a work called “Maori Lore,” printed at the colony’s expense, a scandalous burlesque on the beautiful Maori traditions collected with such care by Sir George Grey and other gifted writers. The Maori Cosmic Myth of the Creation, for instance, which contains most sublime conceptions—such as the separation of the Earth Mother from the Sky Parent by their rebellious off-spring—-is debased by filling the mouths of their demi-god children with Billingsgate slang. I cordially endorse your remarks regarding the old soldiers, now a fast diminishing number, over three hundred having gone West during the last three years. For over thirty years successive Governments set up Royal Commissions to deal with “Old Soldiers’ Claims,” but in the drafting of the “orders of reference,” the cunning of tlie serpent must have been used to defeat any chance of relief being granted. Probably oVer twenty thousands pounds were thus wasted; many poor old soldiers dying without the comforts they fought for and deserved. It is to Mr Massey’s Government’s credit that this stain on the Dominion’s fair name was removed, and I earnestly hope that all old soldiers will bear that in mind.— With every good wish, faithfully yours— GILBERT MAIR. Tauranga, Dec. 22, 1922.