The Daily News MONDAY, AUGUST 1, 1904. MAORIS AT HOME.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVI, Issue 178, 1 August 1904, Page 2

The Daily News MONDAY, AUGUST 1, 1904. MAORIS AT HOME.

Tho decision of the Stipendiary Magistrate in the charges preferred by the police against jwrsons taking liquor into Maori kaingas is far-reaclt-ing in its effects, and will bo welcomed by all who take an interest in tho nativo race, remnants now of a bravo and warlike people, Tht drunken debauchery at Mauri tangis is much to bo deplored, the natives congregating in largo numbers, herding together under most insanitary conditions, and continuing so until •tho supply of food and intoxicating liquor, more especially the latter, has run out. Such a state of things would not be allowed to exist among Europeans, though some of the orgies that disgrace tiie name of "social functions', are but Httlo removed. Luckily, New Plymouth ib free from any such curse. The Maori laugis as at present carried out ore highly reprehensible, and serve no good purpose whatever, and generally result in lights mid brawls and a sad depletion of the funds of the rich men of the hapu. It is interesting to note that in order to prevent the disgraceful scenes of debaucliery which ajo not uncommonly witnessed at tangis and other gatherings of natives, tho Hon. J. Carroll purposes moving, when the Licensing Uill is under consideration, that it bo illegal to sell liquor to any native for consumption outside of licensvd premises. This will prevent the na. lives carrying away kegs and bottles of spirits to their katogas and indulging in prolonged orgies. As the law stands at present any person taking intoxicating liquor into a native village is amenable to the law, and commits a crime. We have it on good authority that should there come before the court in this district a case similar to those beard at Opunake last week tho police will, on a conviction being recorded, immediately proceed against | the person or [wrsons who supplied the liquor, as being accessory to the crime. A party of visitors, Ray, to i'arihaka, carrying with them a single flask of spirits for their own use would come under the penal clauses of tho Maori Councils Amendment Act, 1983, hut it would not follow that the licensed victualler who supplied that small quantity of alcoholic beverage would bo held as being accessory to tho crime. Should,however, a native apply to a publican, brewer, or merchant lor a case of whisky and a couple of hogsheads of beer, as is often tho case when a tangi is being arranged for, tho guardians ot tho law are of opinion that tho seller should make Inquiries as to the destination of the liquor, and if lie linds that it is intended to bo taken into a Maori kainga lie should refuse to supply it. Jt will apparently be necessary for the vendees to satisfy themselves that there is no such intention, and for their information the intention of the police authorities is given publicity. This is not the only ditiiculty which besets the path of those who are anxious to prolong the existence of the native rare, whose rapid decline has 1 lo a /urge extent been checked by the well-directed efforts of the lvfloriiwM's i" native sanitation, cuildlife, and the other phases of their being which were far from satisfactory. At Wellington recently, I'roijessorl Kirk, who had cvtiry opportunity during his service in the Education Department of studying the sabject under notice, delivered an interesting lecture on " the Maori of To-day." He first dealt with their surroundings, which wore not conge-

■ial to their intellectual, moral, and, physical well-being, and tended to t account for their alow advance in ci- c vilisation. The attitude of the c Maori towards the European was a mixed one. They were often suspici- ' ous of those who had their best in- ; tel'u.sts at heart, and trustful of those who would take advantage of them. Tohungatsm was more harmful today than in the past, 011 account of those practising Hie art being unskilled men. In their relations totowards titeir fellow-men. The Maoris were very much 011 a par with others, 'lliey were riot an ungrateful people, but gratitude was one of their char, ac[eristics. Jiuiuoriility, the speaker believed, could be cured by inculcating into the rising young Maori the necessity of protecting his sister's honour. ile dealt at some length with the education question, whowing that the best scholastic results attained in the high schools ' would compare favourably with those in our own schools, making allow- I ance for tho Maoris having to barn in a foreign tongue. Tho cry was often raised that the girls were not boljig coral for, 'but this was not true. There were two schools in >iapiw in whiah tliey were being educated. With regard to the teachers, it was his opinion that man for man, they were as line a body of men as any in tho public service. But If it was insisted, as it seamed possible might happen, that only certificated .teachers should be appointed, then the personnel of the stall' was bound to suffer, and for this reason At pres- [ tut the Education Department was able to draw upon tho very best of u The uncertificated teachers in tlw colr ony, and while the salaries were ■' small, as at present, very few of tiie

best certificated teachers would apply for the positions. But although the certificate was of very groat value, yot there was no comparison between the-best of the uncertificated teachers and the worst of the certificated teachers. Another point to be considered in connection with the prospects of the Maori was the tourist traflic. It scem«d necessary to recognise that the Goveonment, on one hand, was trying to raise the Maori, while, on the other hand, the colony had a clear interest in retarding the civilisation of the Maori, and in some cases bad an interest in his demoralisation. If the tlting was looked at from the innocent point of view, it must be admitted that the children, say of Rotorua, spending much of their time diving in hot water for coins, and much more in dancing hakas for the amusement of .tourists, were not getting a training which would fit them to earn their living for | themselves, they would find that many of the avenues of respectable living were closed to them. The only remedy for that state of things was probably one that it would be somctime before any Government would try to adopt, namely, the extinguishing of all land rights within tho hot water area, and practically the deportation of the Maoris from Rotorua. Tliat could only be brought about by insisting upon no Maoris living there who lacked lawful visible means oi support. Among such means income

from rents should not be considered. Thero would bo immense opposition to a scheme of that kind, but in the •speaker's opinion, nothing else could save the Maori from: complete demoralisation. To carry out that or any other scheme that would be oft'ectivo would need a strong man. Personally, Professor Kirk hoped they had such a man in tho colony and now in power. The future of the Maori, he thought, was on tho land or in' the army. ON THE FOURTH PAGE, The Birth-Rate. Counties Conference. Is Leopold Insane ?