THOUGHTS FOR THE TIMES.

Hokitika Guardian, 29 May 1930, Page 4

THOUGHTS FOR THE TIMES.

THE MAORI OR TO-DAY. To-day the.. Maori-.is. an element of the New Zealand population that exercises a marked influence on the life pf; our . teouptijfdlm James l Cowart writes in his .preface4o “The Maori.’* “Not only is the Native race an honoured and, respected section. • of the. population, living oil. terms of political and social equalitynyi.th .those of European blood, but the_ pakeha pays ife the compliments,''borrowing largely ' fl'otn its literatutep.oind art-, and ita traditions and folklore.” Y<jt only three-quarters of a century ago an officer of the Royal), Engineers stationed at Auckland prophesißed that “in 50 years there will scarcely be one New Zealand Native deft ,-alive, All that can be done is to,,Jet:them die out aa quietly as possible.”., The Maori ia strong numerically;,;at present-, and every census shows ait;,increase in popu- , lation. Why? It, most be, as Mr Cowan suggests, that), the Maori possssses “a strong racial quality of pbysical and spiritual, resilience, a power to rise superior t 0,,, hostile natural'. ’ forces.” . Members,,of the race of old! Polynesian sailors, wjift made such daring voyages of discovery and, colonisa- . tion would not be expected to die opt without a struggle,. in, ; any case. .