WORK FOR MAORIS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 6, Issue 48, 16 February 1943, Page 6

WORK FOR MAORIS

EDUCATION AND WELFARE

LETTER FROM HON. PAIKEA

"In your edition of January 20, a speech by Professor W. A. Sewell to a Coromanclel audience was reported. In this Professor Sewell was reported to have made the following one of his main points: "The Government's lack of interest in education and the Avelfare and future of the Maori race." I feel that as reported the Professor's real views may not, have been adequately presented, but lest any of your readers may deduce that the Government has failed in a proper concern for the welfare of the Maoris I submitted the report to the Hon. F. K. Paikea, representative of the Maori race in the Cabinet, for reply, states a letter received by the Hauraki Plains Gazette from Mr J. Thorn, M.P., for Thames. The Hon., F. Iv. Paikea, Minister in Charge of Maori War Effort writes as under:— "With reference to your letter of January 22, in connection with the attached! clipping from the Hauraki Plains Gazette of Januar3 r 20, in connection Avith a speech made by Professor Sewell i't would appear that the Professor was speaking without a proper appreciation of the position.

"Maori localities throughout New Zealand furnish abundant. visible evidence of the Government's keen interest in the 'education of the Maori, fine schools built on modern open-air ' lines with the object of securing the healthiest possible conditions for the pupils. Vigorous Programme , "I wonder if Professor Sewell has had the privilege of inspecting such native schools at WhakarewareAva and Te Kao. These schools amongst, others express the GoA r ernment's interest in the educational environnient of the Maori, and are definite instances of the vigorous building programme initiated by the present Prime Minister Avhen Minister of Education. "The Government has enlarged in the most generous manner the facilities at. natiA T e schools for the teaching of practical subjects such as home science, woodwork, and ithe various handicrafts. It has, in addition, proA r ided modern bath houses and is supplying milk (pasteurised or malted) to the children. In * actual fact, including the proAdsion for dental clinics, the Maori is. noAA r on all fours Avith the pftkeha. More Scholarships "Scholarships for the post-primary education of the Maori have /not only been increased in number but nursing scholarships for Maori girls haA*e been instituted and continuation scholarsliijps to enable Maori boys, and girls to enter the Teachers' Training Colleges, are also aAvarded."The following figures showing the expenditure on natiA r e schools between* the financial years ending 1934 and 1941 are in themselves illuminating as shoAving the interest taken in native schools by the present Government. Year End'ed March 31. 1934. .. £79,700 1935 £91,792 1936 £100,077 1937 .. £126,886 1938 £153,025 1939 £181,356 1940 £158,739) 194 £171,216 "Moreover it-he economic background of the Maori has, under the Labour Government been so improved • that the parents, generally speaking, are now in a position to ensure that full advantage can be taken by their, children of the educational facilities offering from the Primary Schools to the. university. Proud of Effort "In addition the high standard of efficiency of the teachers, in the native school service and the enthusiasm now being evidenced by them in the education and advancement of their Maori pupils, /is in itself a monument to Labour's educational policjr, and the recognition Avlrich has now been given to the. importance of Maori education and advancement is something of Avhich any may be proud. "With regard to Professor SeAveU's reported contentions that there is a lack of interest taken bj' the Lab- , oir Government in the Avelfare and j in the fu'u~c of the Maori, it, is a f or wonderment that the

i' lessor should he so out of dale lr~ co-ooption of the position. No Government has ever given more

intensive thought ancl study to the economic welfare of the Maori race than the present Government. Land Development "Then there is another factor of far-reaclvng importance, namely the Native Land Development Scheme and the Native Housing Scheme, both of which are striking evidence of the interest >taken by the Government in the well-being of the Maori. » "The following are the figures showing the cash expenditure to the nearest £1 from the period 1934 to 1941 in connection with expenditure on native land development and Maori housing:— March. 31 Development Housing 1934 .. • £319,497 1935 .. £230,273 1936 .. £249,545 3937 .. £373,150 1938 .. £648,606 . £7,868 1939 . . £999,506 £66,935 194.0 .. £905,779 . £134,682 1941 .. £858,629 £188,598 . "I is a sine qua non that only the. best results' can be obtained from the name by enabling and encouraging them to think for, and organise themselves, from within themselves. Tribal Committees '"There arc at the moment over 360 tribal and tribal executive committees operating throughout the length and breadth of New Zealand whose fundamental aims and objects arc, firstly, the whole-hearted prosecution of the Avar effort and secondly the rehabilitation of themselves to enable them to compete on equal terms with their pakelia brothers and sisters in the afterwar reconstruction of New Zealand.

"These tribal committees are working out, and can be relied, upon in the future to work out their own destiny on the basis of independence and equality. Nearly a century of leeway has lo he made up but with the help and sympathetic consideration at the hands of his pakelia friends the* Maori people Avill be well on the way to working out their own salvation untinged with charity."