THE MAORI CHARACTER.

Otago Witness, Issue 2817, 4 March 1908, Page 29

THE MAORI CHARACTER.

AN OBSERVER'S VIEW.

AUCKLAND, February 28. Addressing the To Aute Association afc Orakei <in "The Sins of the Maori," Mr W. W. Bird, M.A., Inspector of MaorJ Schools, said he had not much fault t<x> find with the children. They were not d themselves prone to bad languge, although often wrongly accused of it. '* Children oli Naturs as they are, they are conscious of m* breach of etiquette in talking of mattertv that we pakehas have' come in our .refined civilisation to regard as not proper subjects of conversation," said Mr Bird, " and indeed, one is struck by the. fact that remarks on such subjects , where ' made in the Maori language lost all* their objectionable nature. The ganius of the language transforms them." From. what he had seen, the Maori school child did l not have a bad mind. Gambling in a few places had been acquired by them". In tourist resorts he deplored the habit of begging that had- grown up. The adults were much addicted to drink, which was often of a vile character, specially tampered with for sale to the Maori. In th« north; the habit of wine-drinking had begun. The 'evils of billiards, card-playing, and horse-racing -were also dealt with. In many cases of immorality it was the pakeha wha was the source of mischief. He exhorted the young men to protect their women.