MAORI CENSUS REPLIES.

Manawatu Herald, Volume L, Issue 3936, 30 April 1929, Page 4

MAORI CENSUS REPLIES.

The difficulties of 'Census enumeration amongst the Maoris are apparent from solme of the replies given on the 1&26 Census papers. The Government! Statistician (Mr. Malcolm Fraser)? states in Ms report on the results of the Maori Census that datta are framed on the basis of an> occupational —as distinct from industrial —classification on lines identical with that adopted for Europe ans. The value suffers somewhat,, as in the case of other items, froVn the literal nature, of the replies- Thus, for example, the occupation of potato

or kvamara digging, expressed in a score of ways, as, “Malii kumara,” “Hnnhaki riwai,” “Kcri taewa,” “Main puhi,” etc., assumes, he says a rather undue importance in view of its prominence at the actual Census date. Other terms of indefinite nature were frequently encountered, such as “Mahi paarnu” (works on farm); “Mahi kai” (iwofiks for his living); “Knki” (cooks). In such cases it was difficult to assess the actual occupational status or duties of the individual. Incidentally, replies to this query were couched with peculiar frequency in a species of phonetic Maori-English. Thus the occupation “Taraiwa motuka” partially obscures the more prosaic rendering, “Driver of a motor-car.” Similarly, “Piriote imaaka” is not recognisable at first glance as “bil-liard-maker;” “Poaka whaarna” as “Pig-farmer;” “Kirimi kaata” as “cream-carter;” or “Taone poari” as “town board.”