MAORI MEMORIES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 4 August 1939, Page 9

MAORI MEMORIES

SWINDLING THE MAORI

(Recorded by J.H.S. for “Times-Age.”)

A volume could well be used to summarise the injustice and the illadvised influence of the Pakeha upon the simple-minded and receptive Maori from their first contact. Many a Maori of high rank and independence known among them as a Rangatira has been reduced to poverty. a condition for which they did not even have a word. This was done in several ways, mainly by taking advantage of their inexperience concerning such terms and conditions as purchase, sale, transfer or mortgage of land.

By teaching them the allurements of rum and tobacco, blankets and sugar, and many other costly "luxuries, ’ including firearms, unprincipled traders induced them to sign harmless looking papers which turned out to be mortgages, another word which could only be translated as "Mokete.” When a feast or a funeral, a marriage or a christening a la Pakeha was celebrated, the "Pakeha Atawhai” ikind white man) would imitate real Maori benevolence, and pile up the luxuries of his store for consumption by the guests without limit. All asked in return was the Tohe (mark) on a piece of paper on which the chiefs "acknowledged his generosity." This being verified by a Kai Whakapono (witness) who added the mysterious letters J.P. to his Ingoa (name). Among these "gifts" (homai non) were a number of corn-fed Pakeha pigs. The "J.P.” was quite easily explained as "Judge of Pigs"! (Kai whakarite peuaka). This document was actually produced as evidence in the Native Land Court, in Wanganui in 1875. Guns were freely sold to the Maoris in this way. Ono Chief bought a "repeating" rifle for 5250 (on paper) for which only ten rounds of ammunition could be procured in New Zealand. The document given in all innocence proved many years after the Chief’s death to be the transfer of two square miles of land.