PASSING MAORI MEMORIES

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 463, 3 July 1937, Page 6

PASSING MAORI MEMORIES

RECORDED BY J.H.S. FOR “THE TARANAKI CENTRAL PRESS.”

The Passing (Hekfenga). Less than 80 years ago statistics began to claim some official at*e»tion in New Zealand. In most new colonies few think of education, all are intent upon wealth, or at least, the means of living. In 1857 “it was noted l with pleasure how much progress in learning had been made in seven year*.” Already 75 adult settlers in every 100 could read, and 38 could write! Decrease in the Maori population claimed more attention from -our altruistic Missionary statists. All European experience pointed to the painful fact that civilised races demoralised tha, aboriginals, and this country to be no exception. In America, West Indies, Africa, and Australia, it was claimed that ill treatment and neglect were the primary causes of decrease and degeneracy; but in fact with few exceptions Scots, Irish, and English in this country behaved tpward the Maoris in a Christian spirit unknown to Saxon, Norman, or Spianlsh invaders of an early period in Europe or America. In 1858 we found only 27 persons in every 100 Maoris were under 14, whilst in England 40 per cent of the people were of that age. Still more

disturbing was the unusual disproportion of the sexes’. The males outnumbered the females by about one third. Dr. Rees, Colonial Surgeon at Wan. ganui ascertained that of 433 Maori children born alive, only 204 survived.when their mothers were dead In Waikato Mr. Fenton found!- that of 289 mothers, 68 had lost all their children by introduced diseases. The strength of a people doe*- not depend -upon the number of their babies, but upon those who reiach a useful age. This rapid decline in numbers and disparity of sex was all the more alarming because of the previous experience of “five generations" being so frequently quoted as proof of age, and the disgrace pertaining to sickness or death, except by reason of wounds in war or extremely long life. , Medical, men attributed the decline to the universal use of potatoes- instead of the more varied and nutritious foods of their ancestors. Another cause was the introduction of maize and its extensive use in a fermented or even putrid condition. The ravages of rum came later, when we destroyed the law of Tapu which had so effectively banned its use in earlier years.