The Maori Past and Present.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXV, Issue 246, 16 November 1903, Page 4

The Maori Past and Present.

Ail eloquent wold picture of the Maori past and present was drawn by tho Native Minister during the debate on the Maori Councils Amendment Act. He showed how, on our I advent here, we had planked down upon the shoulders of the uncivilised Maori all the complicated laws of an older country. He was like a babe in the woods. We had not done the Maori justice. We had asked liim to revolutionise his mode of life without taking him by gradual steps and accustoming him to the new conditions. And yet to-day they would say that it was wrong I o mukc one law for the Maori and a different law for the European. If they were true in that desire, why not put him on the European electoral roll, and have no special Maori representation at all, give him a voice in our affairs, a show in the Civil Hervice, aind also hv regard to public appointments ? In endeavouring' to keep liquor out of the native villages he was receiving the co-opera-tion of the influential chiefs throughout tiro colony. He thought we should build up the lvome life of the Maori ; set him ideals in his village life'; give him privileges and power to create and establish vil-' lages of the best pattern nnd form ; 1 get into his inner life, nnd show , him something to aspire to, nnd if we did that in his home life, r»-| forms in connection with Maoii land administration would be made easy and productive of good results. But if you start at the wrong end," he concluded, "dealing with the Maori's land lirst, and neglecting him in his domestic circle, well, all yemr good will be thrown away."