MAORI TRUSTS

Chronicle (Levin), 12 September 1946, Page 2

MAORI TRUSTS

PRAISE FOR BISIIOP HOLLAND The action of Bishop Holland in scttling the differences between thc , Maori people in Wairarapa and on the West Coast with reference to the Papawai - Kaikokirikiri and 1 Porirua-Otaki trusts was characterised by Sir Apirana Ngata at the conference of tribal representatives which met during the jubilee celebrations of the Bishop of Aotearoa (the Right Rev. F. A. Bennett ) as "a great step forward." Bishop Holland, he said, had dealt «.vith the problem in cach instance both sympathetically and with practical wisdom. "The Maoris todav war.t to see an interpvetation of the trusts to accord with the lacts of to-day," said Sir Apirana with reference to Maori educational trusts generally held by the Anglican Church. The Wellington Diocese had recognised at Otaki the dominant claim of the Maoris that he best education, either in church or secondary schools, should be ivailable to their children. At Wairarapa, Bishop Plolland had 'greed to additional Maori rcpresentation on the trust. However, on the West Coast ihe scope of the •rust had narrowed in another .lirection, and it appeared as if it vas to benent only the children of he donating tribes, and there was also a tendency, because of the reputed standaid of education, to oy-pass the Church schools. While ;he conference had under consider-

ation tno ruture of St. Stephen's1 School in the Auckland Diocese, the question cf all trusts was one of 'oncern to the Maori people. The Anglican ^Church had > been. iriticised for apparent failure to larry out the provisions of such Tusts, and had been afraid to coxperate with the Education lepartment or accept any help rom the Government in case the atter should "reach out and issume control." However, he hought that such apprchension vas unnecessary. There had never ^een any desire cn thc part of Parliament, as far as he was aware, to divest the churches of their , trusts. » ! The West Coast people, said the I Rev. P. Temuera (Otaki) had no Dbjection to children from other

tribes going there for education, provided that the school, which : was closed some years ago, remained there. Archbishop West-Watson said he never had any fear as to the Government's intentions: he realised that inefficient schools were of no ; use. "Co-operation is the wise way i in the long . view," he remarked. "I am not saying this on behalf of the Church, but am expressing my own view." He promised to give consideration to views expressed at ; Nie conference. !