SIR ROBERT STOUT ON THE MODERN MAORI.

Otago Witness, Issue 2810, 22 January 1908, Page 39

SIR ROBERT STOUT ON THE MODERN MAORI.

HIS NEEDS AND HIS CAPACITIES. AUCKLAND, January 19. The good opinion that Sir Robert Stout, Chief Justice, has previously formed of the modern Maori as a worker has been in no way dispelled by his observations in respect to the Rotorua Natives. "The Natives -on the East Coast," ,he said, "have become successful settlers, and there ie no doubt that they will also become successful settlers in the Rotorua district if they can only get sufficient capital to start with. I thinkthe Government ehould lend the Maori6money on the same terms that they" lend it to Europeans. Many of the Maoris in the Rotorua district have- been steadily working away for the past 20 yeare. It is absurd to' say that the Maori will not work, continuously. Many "of them -will work quite as steadily and do as good work as Europeans^ The Arawas seem to be .mentally a very alert race, and I do not think you. could find farmers in any other part of the Dominion who would surpass them in this respect. T was glad to notice that in one case a Maori and a half-cast have started sawmilling, their mill being worked by Maoris. The Natives also do a great deal of work in connection with the mills owned by Europeans, and they are said to be very excellent workmen." "I notice," Sir Robert continued, ' a great improvement in the Rotorua Natives as compared vrith the time when I saw them first. The Rev. Mi» Bennett seems to be doing a good work, amongst them-. They have not yet taken up farms to the same extent as the East Coast Natives have done, and I am strongly of opinion, that they should have the benefit of instruction by agricultural instructors. The best plan would be to have Maori or half-cast instructors, but if this is not possible there should be European instructors. The Government employ experts to teach people how to look after butter, cheese, flax, and" other products, and I think the Maoris ehould also receive the benefit of this system of instruction."