Illegitimate Children.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVI, Issue 188, 13 August 1904, Page 2

Illegitimate Children.

HANDED OVER TO MAORIS, A matter of considerable interest wjuf -brought, under the notice of l-he Native Minister by Mr Remington on Wednesday, who asked whether the Minister, is aware that a considerable number of illegitimate children are being handed over by their parents to the Maoris, and that these children are being -brought up us Maoris without education, and while it is not denied that the natives are kind to such children while they are young, and in a few cases are adopted, ctill, as they grow older they are neglected and looked down upon by everybody, and are in great danger of turning out useless and dangerous members of Society ; and whether tho Government will therefore take steps to put a stop to this unnatural practice, us the number of children so disposed of is increasing ? The Hon. J. Carroll stays he is aware of a few instances in which some European children have beenadopted,by the Maori to save them from begleet, desertion, and absolute waifdoni. The Maoris bestow every care and attention on them, treating them exactly as their own. Where educational facilities are available, the foster-children are given the same advantages as the Maori children. The fault of these children being looked down upon must rest entirely with the European side, -and should they turnout, us is feared, useless and dangerous members of society, the responsibilities must lie laid at the door of those who forsook Uiern in their helplessness. As far as the Maori is concerned, he treats with the question purely in a Christian and Samaritan spirit, and dares- to totting what might be a conventional law rather Hum {sacrifice his principles of humanity. While it mav bo necessary that the unnatural practice of European parents in handing over their children in this way to the care of others should, as far as possible, bo checkod, until this step is taken arbitrarily by law, provision should he made for the care of the innocent ones. Any practical suction by the lion, member on this point will assist the Government, whose intention it is to deal broadly with the question of tho protection of infant iile in this colony.—Times.