MAORI YOUTHS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 554, 8 July 1909, Page 7

MAORI YOUTHS.

;'■;,■ PROPOSED INDUSTEIAL FAEM.. ■'/.. V'By a resolution of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church last November, tho Maori Mission Committee was empowered to purchase over one hundred acres of land for. the purpose of establishing an industrial farm for Maori youths. The authority wp; weighted with, the' condition that the committee must be able to see their way to finance the Echeme. There has been somewhat of a pressure on the funds at the disposal of the committee during the last eight ..or nine, months, which has caused delay in the matter. Over 100 acres of good land have' now been purchased in the. Taumarunni; and Maranui districts, and it '.is expeoted that the Tental obtainable for grazing purposes will be sufficient to pay interest on the 'money borrowed to acquire the land, so .that even if the main, "scheme cannot be proceeded with at once, no loss will be incurred. ' ■•■ .';. y . .'■ ,• ■ •• . ; The scheme' is really the outcome of the excellent work accomplished by the Turakina College, for Maori Girls, which is controlled by the Presbyterian Church. This institution is to a. large extent a School of domestic edonoiny, and the. girls who have received its training have in many cases married well, and in others been very successful in religious and other spheres of service. The , Assembly felt that it was not doing its full duty to the Maori men by teaching them the elements of religion, but-.thot the elements of"industry' should also be imparted, and, encouraged by, the success :of the girls' school at Turakina, it resolved upon the project of an industrial Maori youths, which is now in a fair, way of being realised. -.■■',. '■'■',