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Salient: Victoria University Students' Paper. Vol. 27, No. 13. 1964.

Unsatisfactory

Unsatisfactory

The actual steps taken by Mr. Kinsella in withdrawing the book were unsatisfactory. He, who openly admits that he liked the book, thus indicates his rejection of all the justifiable claims the Maori women may have had and in so doing emphasises its real value. He excused the withdrawal by claiming that the family concerned had been teased, and that it would create undesirable racial tensions.

A more appropriate response would have been: "The book offended the sensibilities of a particular group with its realism. As this group concerns the political managers in the National party, pacifying measures were required." The peculiar comment in the National Party monthly Freedom tends to bear this out. It was: "Withdrawal of the Education Department's booklet 'Washday at the Pa.' is a timely reminder of the dangers of exhibiting dirty linen in public."

To state that the book would cause impressionable school children, for whom it was intended, to indulge in racial discrimination is a sufficiently serious assertion to warrant more explanation than the minister gave in his bald assertion. What educational psychology does he base his assertion on?

This booklet shows the children happy like us, gay and enthused with living' to the other children. It shows someone who can get pleasure out of watching Mum cooking and Dad shearing.

For protagonists of the withdrawal to argue that the untidy surroundings should have been shown balanced with more orderly surroundings is outrageous, when one considers all the other trashy literature glamourising the Maori which is distributed, with scant regard for presenting a balanced image.

Take a look, as I did at the selection in your bookshop of publications on the Maori, and try to find one that reflects true Maoridom in transition more effectively.

Photo from 'Washday at the Pa' taken by Ans Westra

Some argue that the book, if badly presented in the classroom, would do harm. It so happens that teachers are provided to present material correctly, and if we are to commence providing correcting influences for all our bad teachers, then we will be fully occupied.