UNDER MORMON ELDERS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1375, 28 February 1912, Page 4

UNDER MORMON ELDERS.

MAORI SCHOOL AT PIRINOA. ' Some time ago the Wellington Education Board had its attention drawn to the fact that a Native school at Piriliua was being conducted by Mormon elders. Tho question of its inspection arose and the board wrote to the Education Department regarding the need for inspecting schools conducted by Mormon elders and attended by Maori" children." Tho Inspector-General of Schools (Mr. G. Hogben) replied that as far as tho Department had been able to ascertain, tho controlling authorities of Mormon schools did not offer any objection to inspection; on the contrary, they invited it. "There are, however," said the Inspector-General, "two points in connection with the proposed inspection that seem to require some consideration. In the first place, the schools in question would be more properly -classified as 'private' schools rather than 'Native' schools, inasmuch as the religion of tho children, and not their race is the determining factor. If this view be adopted, tho schools in question must bo treated by tho board in tho same way as nil other private schools in the district are treated. In the second place the proposed • inspection does not sseni to the Department to come under its control. The question has been raised because certain children living within a school district are not attending the board's school established in that district. It seems to be rather a matter for the board." The foregoing letter was read at the board's meeting yesterday and "received."