Second Meeting: 8th July, 1907.
Mr. E. V. Miller, President, in the chair.

Paper.—“The Passing of the Maori,” by the Rev. Archdeacon Walsh (p. 154).

A lengthy discussion arose.

Dr. Pomare, Chief Native Health Officer, admitted that Archdeacon Walsh's contention was, in the main, correct. He considered that the Maori is doomed not to extinction, but to absorption. It was inevitable that where a more numerous and more vigorous race came into contact with a weaker one that the weaker one must be absorbed. Already a very large percentage of the Maoris in the South Island had European blood in them, and the North Island Natives were rapidly becoming tinctured with pakeha blood. He did not believe that the Maoris would entirely die out, but in the future they should find a new race in whose veins would be commingled the blood of the Anglo-Saxon and the Maori. It had taken the European races hundreds—nay, thousands—of years to reach their present standard of civilisation. The Maori race had been suddenly brought into the dazzling light of this civilisation, and required time to adapt themselves to their new surroundings. It was a matter for great regret that when the Gospel was first preached to the Maoris the laws of health and cleanliness had not also been preached to them.

Dr. Buck, Assistant Native Health Officer, supported the views expressed by Dr. Pomare. As for the education of the Maoris, it must be borne in mind that until lately the class of teachers employed had not been good, and, in any case, there had not been time to produce a marked effect. He considered that the mental qualities of the Maori were quite-equal to those of average Europeans. The Polynesian race, of which

the Maoris were a branch, had lived for ages in a climate and under conditions where the means of subsistence were easily obtained. There was, therefore, no incentive to progress. The European races had for the most part to contend with an inhospitable climate, and had to fight for their existence with neighbouring races—their efforts were thus quickened and intensified; and the discovery of metals led to an enormous advance. Granted time and opportunity, the Maori race was capable of similar improvement.