"HORI AND DAD"

New Zealand Listener, Volume 35, Issue 892, 7 September 1956, Page 5

"HORI AND DAD"

Sir,-In his comments on the radio item "Hori and Dad" your correspondent J.McL.H. suggests that the Hori and Wiremu of my Maori Tales series of some 28 years ago were "stupidly cunning." While it is sometimes salutary to have one’s youthful indiscretions brought to mind, it is disagreeable to have them distorted. That the Maori stories I dispensed were in good fun and good taste was plain from the manner in whieh they were received, particularly by the Maoris themselves. "Hare Hongi" contributed to later issues and Oriwa Haddon designed the cover of the third book. James Cowan, great student and lover of the Maori, wrote to me and warmly commended the Tales, At the same time he admitted that his best laugh came from a typographical error which had perverted a gracious compliment in Maori into a bawdy insult. Fortunately this error would not have been apparent to anyone but a Maori student. I do not know of the radio number referred to by your correspondent. I must now listen in case there is any infringement of copyright! I would remind K.McL.H. that there is such a creation as "the stage Maori," just as there is "the stage Irishman." Although only re-

motely related to the living subject they do add to the laughter of the day. And how we needed a laugh in the dark days of the Depression, when my Maori Tales were abounding. Over 60,000 copies were sold at the depression price of 2/per copy-and illustrated! I do not like your correspondent’s reference to "the poor Maori." There never has been, nor, please God, will there ever be "the poor Maori." No-the bountiful Maori-rich in goodwill, sentiment. and humour.

PAT

LAWLOR

Wellington)_