Scruffy Hair!

Unfortunately an unseemly squabble ensued when the booklet fell into the hands of the Maori Women's Welfare League, who expressed indignation at the image it portrayed of Maori women. They heaped scorn on the idea that desirable human values came through and pointed to the scruffy hair shown in some of the photos as being derogatory.

A member of the Maori Women's Welfare League, Mrs. R. Sage, accused Miss Westra of being so ignorant of Maori customs as to photograph children violating tapu laws. The particular photograph shows some children near prepared food. In an interview, Miss Westra indicated that the family had not known of the existence of the particular law.

The emotion of those Maoris who pressed for the withdrawal of the book can be appreciated as just personal feelings, but not as just cause for pressuring the Minister.