MAORI MEMORIES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 25 October 1939, Page 2

MAORI MEMORIES

THE BISHOP AND MAORI FINANCE

(Recorded by J.H.S. for “Times-Age.”)

Two years ago I was privileged to have an afternoon’s chat with the late Bishop Williams at the home of a friend, Mr J. B. Lee, of Palmerston North. In reference to Sir Apirana Ngata’s comprehensive and commonsense scheme of individual dairy farms under co-operative control, the Bishop’s high approval was subject only to one strong criticism. He decided, and quite rightly, that all finance in connection with the extensive operations of the plan should be under the sole control of a board of experienced accountants. By birth and experience, the Maori people have no idea of the meaning of money or finance. Like their ancestral experience of the family store of food, its sole purpose was homai nomai (giving away). The inference drawn from his Lordship's remarks was that the Government had gravely neglected this obvious duty, in spite of which handicap the Maori cream supply now exceeds that of the pakeha at that factory. Even in pakeha schemes of industry and business we must employ the most experienced expert, finance management, or finally seek the aid of the Official Assignee in Bankruptcy. In referring to that dairying experiment for the reinstatement of the Maori people, the Bishop said: "Why ask the Maori to compete in that keen: race for commerce and finance before he has even learned to walk? He knows nothing of the value or power of money beyond counting coins on five fingers.”