Maori Authority Defends Clive Drummond

Radio Record, Volume IX, Issue 13, 4 October 1935, Page 50

Maori Authority Defends Clive Drummond

To the Editor. Sir.-Referring to the letter on Maori pronunciation contained in the "Rep a" of September 206, may I be to say that Mr, Drummond's prouuncifiou of the name of the famous Aly Black is _ perfectly correct If the word hau to be pronounced as your correspondent suggests, it would have to be spelt "Nipia " It is evidently the Maori form of our ne: lish name "Napier," the long "a" sqund in the English word being represented, by "oe" in Maori. This goes to shew, does it not, that what one may have always heard is not neces: sarily correct, and Mr. Drummon/’s pronunciation of "Boyleott" bas therefore as mueh right to be accepted as that of any other man until it can be shown, on sufficient grounds, to be wrong, [n Wellington: one hears many people speaking of "Major Banks" Street. but that does not prove that "Marchbanks" is wrong wipe in fact. it is the corres{ nrovuneiatiag of the name for "Majoribanke."’ As far as my knowledge and experience go. Mr. Drummond’s careful provunciation of Maori names leaves little room for finding fault and, indeed, he has done

much toward securing an improvement in this respect. If listeners follow bim tbey ... will not be far wrong; in the case under .. review they will be perfectly right.-I am, te.,

WILLIAM W.

BIRD

Roseneath_