NOBLE PEOPLE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 9 October 1941, Page 7

NOBLE PEOPLE

TRANSITION OF MAORI RACE CONTACT WITH CIVILISATION. ADDRESS BY MR R. W. POM ARE. “The Transition of the Maori Race,” was the subject of an address at today’s meeting of the Masterton Rotary Club by Mr R. W. Pomare,, of the Department of Health, Wellington. Mr Pomare is a son of the late Sir Maui Pomare. At the outset Mr Pomare stated that he would give a brief resume of the wanderings of his race through the “oceans of time and space" until the present time. In the twilight of fable the forbearers of the native race and the pakehas were cradled in the same Aryan cot. The pakeha had been fortunate in striking the key which opened vast stores of knowledge. The Maori had remained in the stone age but it had been well said by the ancestors of the Maori of today. “Shadowed behind the tattooed face a stranger stands—he owns the earth and he is white” and “Weep not for me or your children, but for your children’s children.” COMMUNAL EXISTENCE. Mr Pomare said that before the advent of European civilisation the Maori had an ideal communal existence. The national pastime—as golf was today—was fighting. One tribe fought another. It had a great advantage from a health point of view. The weak could not do battle. With the advent of European civilisation warfare ceased and the Maoris moved from the healthy hills to the damp swamps of the valleys to i be nearer food and death, via disease. ■ “The communal way of living lead to decadence through the lack of knowledge as to the proper application of this blazing, dazzling light called civilisation,” continued the speaker. Mr Pomare stated that at the beginning of the present century the tide of decadence swept along and reduced the native population to 39,000. It was the opinion of statesmen that in a generation the Maori would become extinct. He stressed the point that the change over to European ideas meant the casting aside of time honoured customs and disillusionment to the Maori. However the gospel of hygiene was preached in every village and • health ideals were infused into the people. He referred to the work carried out by the Maori councils and stated that it was largely cn account of that'work that the native population was 90,000 today against 39,000 at the beginning of the century. The overcoming of the crisis at. the beginning of the century came from within. Mr Pomare dealt with the changes which had taken place in New Zealand in the short space of settlement. He considered that no aboriginal race had been treated so fairly nor did any race, anywhere, so much deserve to be treated fairly. Those with the interest of the Maori people at heart would agree that the Maori’ was his own worst enemy and only he himself, could prevent the race from becoming “hewers of wood and carriers of water,” said Mr Pomare, in urging the need of more self-reliance among the natives of today. HEALTH PROBLEMS. Referring to health matters Mr Pomare dealt with the efforts which had been undertaken to combat the incidence of tuberculosis. He emphasised that the solution of the problem lay in proper housing. He mentioned the fact that he and Dr. Turbett had been engaged in research work in the East Coast district. “I am well aware that lam treading on volcanic grounds when I mention education,” he said.Mr Pomare stressed the point that from higher educational standards would come a stricter adherence to public health laws. He said that he was pleased to hear that the lapse between the time of a native youth leaving primary school and being absorbed into the labour market was being tackled by the Government. Mr Pomare considered that if the land problem was ♦settled reforms would follow. He stated that as a race the Maoris should retain the goodwill and respect of the pakeha. A responsibility rested on them to be worthy descendants of a great and noble people.