The Otago touring team will now be composed as follows: Backs — Watson (Zingari), Webb (University), Jeffs (Pirates), Morgan (Pirates), Sampson (Pirates), Wise (Pirates), McDougall (Alhambra), Leyden (Alhambra), Gilberd (University), Scott (Taieri Rovers), Glengarry (Alhambra). Forwards — Munro (University), Duncan (Kaikorai), Campbell (Alhambra), Coombes (Alhambra), Harty (University), Dickson (University), W. Knox (Alhambra), Pearson (Southern), Milne (Pirates), Eckhoff (Zingari), Gantley (Southern), Brien (Zingari).
The decline of Native races
There is unfortunately nothing new in the views which Dr Cilento presented to the Science Congress at Melbourne with regard to the decline of the Native races in the Pacific since they came in contact with white peoples.
This decline was mainly attributed by him to imported diseases and economic, social and psychological factors. It is regrettably to be acknowledged that where white men have invaded the coloured man’s kingdom the result has generally been the demoralisation and decay of the native.
The Pacific Islands have in some cases been the rendezvous of the flotsam and jetsam of the western world — a happy hunting ground for the scum of civilisation.
To certain of the islands the consequent change is full of tragedy; to all it is a record of humiliation.
“The story of Eden is being repeated before our eyes,” wrote Dr Lamb many years ago.
“The black man has been tempted to eat of the fruit of the tree of knowledge,” he added, and “the result is the same — death to his race and expulsion from his fair heritage.”
Lord Bryce pointed out that our Western civilisation had shattered the ancient ways of life of the native peoples, broken up their tribes, extinguished the old customs and religions, the old beliefs and the old moralities. Even where the customs were sometimes immoral and bad, some of them had a good effect upon conduct because they held society together by ties other and better than those of mere force; and they inculcated some virtues — hospitality, good faith to one another, compassion towards those who needed help.
The whole story is much longer and much worse than this, and the white invader has not usually given much in return for what he has taken from the primitive peoples. It is extremely difficult now to make amends, for the corrupted black man is often more abandoned than even the bad white man, and those who have tried to uplift the fallen races have encountered dual difficulties. Doubtless a much greater effort will be made in future than there has been in the past to succour the unfortunate remnants of the native races, bat the work will be full of disappointment, because the moral damage that has been inflicted has been grave and disastrous. — editorial — ODT, 23.8.1923
Compiled by Peter Dowden
