THE MAORI TANGI

Taihape Daily Times, 9 January 1919, Page 5

THE MAORI TANGI

GRAVE MENACE, TO HEALTH. PLEA FOR ABOLITION. The recent influenza epidemic raised the people to some degree of realisation of the serious menace the Maori pas arc to health, not only to the Maoris themselves, but also to the whole community, says a Bay of Plenty paper. The opinion has been previously expressed that the temporary bar placed upon the holding of tangis should be made permanent. That this should be done, is much to be desired, but something more is needed, if there is the least semblance of truth —and we believe there is—in the report of a'recent occurrence in one of the neighbouring pas. A death occurred, and for several days the body was left in the blazing sun covered only by a rug, with the / face exposed. Commenting on the occurrence one member of tlie native race, himself strongly opposed to the holding of tangis, says that drastic t stops are needed to demonstrate to the Maori that these customs must cease. Continuing, he asserted that the Maori had a wholesome dread of gaol. Next time there is any attempt at a tangi, he suggested that a. couple of men should be taken from the pa and locked up, and that it should be understood that if the attempt is repeated all the people in the pa will be arrested. Then he says, thoy won’t be able to ‘bury '.the bodied fast enough. Such action would no doubt be somewhat drastic, but would be j wholly effective. j There is another aspect, too, of the tangi, that calls for its suppresi sion. B’cforc the coming of the Euro--1 pean a tangi occasionally was pro- ; bably unattended by any serious consequences. An extra ration of pipi or fish was all right, but the adoption of European customs makes all the difference. The tangi now means | heavy expense with a surfeit of all j that money can buy from the local ! baker, butcher, or grocer. When it ( is over the Maoris find themselves I impoverished, and go back to the j simple diet of pipi, with an occasional j schnappor, baked, boiled, fried or raw j These alternate periods of feast and famine must sooner or later tell their tale. From every 6 point of view, therefore, the tangi must go. and the Health Department should take prompt and energetic steps to improve the sanitary conditions of the Maori pas, and so help to arrest the extinction of the finest dark race in the world.