MAORI MEMORIES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 9 January 1940, Page 8

MAORI MEMORIES

PAPA WHAWHAI (Cause of War). (Recorded by J.H.S. for “Times-Age.”) The sacred law of Tapu was far more effective as a restraint from evil deeds and was more ancient by thousands of years than our Christian theology of everlasting fire. Both theories, however, have served their purpose as \ restraint during the long centuries of human evolution. Hence the grave danger of their being suddenly renounced and made the subject of ridicule ere yet human nature has evolved the idea of goodness for its own sake rather than from fear of fire or death by Tapu. In the case of the Maori, whose superstition was destroyed by our Missionaries, he at once lost all restraint, and for the first time became a .thief, a liar, a drunkard, and a deadly' enemy of his Manuhiri (Pakeha guests). Now Hitler, by the doctrine of the “atheist,” has brought a similar fate to that hitherto kindly, industrious, and philosophic German people. In both instances there were obvious errors in doctrine as disclosed by a score of more or less different creeds. Only in recent years have genuine efforts been made to unite them in the common cause of “human understand* ing.” Hitler's guns are directed against two of the strongest and most -ancient creeds in Germany. The sincere silent adoration of the Maori for all tangible evidences of design by the hand of the Creator, such as the Gods of the Earth, the Skies, the Forest, and the Ocean, were far more deeply impressed upon every Maori mind than our fleeting theology. We honour the memory of men for their works just as the Maoris adored God's Creations.