GROSS INJUSTICE.

Shannon News, 1 December 1922, Page 3

GROSS INJUSTICE.

(To the Editor.)

Sir,—lt was with much surprise and indignation that we received the almost incredible information that on the question of No License our compatriots, the Maories, have no vote. The majority of English people are apparently unaware of this preposterous state of things, or it certainly would not have been perihitted to continue until this day. Half a century ago, before they had mastered our language or gained an insight into the influences that make for good or for evil, there was some justification for this position of affairs. But now, when they are in every respect as well educated as Europeans, many of them infinitely better than the low-class Pakeha, there is absolutely no excuse for it. Indeed, how many of our children in these common schools can speak two languages fluently, as these Maori children do,- without any help from text books P In this they certainly sur-' pass Europeans in efficiency. A little less time spent on surps, and some utilised in learning at least one other language than their own (and that imperfectly), would help much in many ways of usefulness.—l am, etc.,

SPECTATOR