MAORI GIRLS’ SCHOOL.

Gisborne Times, Volume XVIII, Issue 1434, 19 April 1905, Page 4

MAORI GIRLS’ SCHOOL.

REMARKS BY PREMIER.

In fcho course of his speech at the opening of the Turakina Maori Girl’s School* the Premier, after expressing pleasure at being present, referred to the importance ol the event. No ono was a well-wisher of the Maoris who did not use every opportunity to save this noble race, who had given us such a grand country, New Zealand,in making provision for in tne colony, had set a noble example to the reßfe of the world. Other countries had had aboriginals, but to the shame of those countries, could it be asked where and what were those aborininala now ? There were still between 80,000 and 40,000 Maoris in the colony. Now Zealand should set an example to the civilised world by endeavouring to save the race for all time. Justice was not always done to the Maoris. People spoke of their weaknesses, and remarked how difficult it was to do anything with them, but, said Mr Seddon, let those people reflect, and they would And that their progenitors a few centuries ago were not so advanced as are the Maoris. It must be remembered that the Maoris had only emerged from savagery during the last 60 years. It was the duty of the colony to save the race. Mr Seddon considered that the school which being opened was a step in the right direction. A ' groat deal would be done towards the preserving of the race if more Maori girls wore educated and made fit to teach other natives. In the past steps had been taken to educate Maori boys, but little attention had been given to the girls. The consequences had been only what could be expected. After a Maori youth left college ho had gone to bis home, and chosen a wife. That wife, beiDg uneducated, and unfit to mix among European society, had caused the youth to remain in the hapu, with the result that his educational train* ing was lost. However, if schools such as the Turakina Girls’ School were established this state of affairs would be remedied. The training they receive would make girls fit to go forth into the world with their husbaud3, and mix with Europeans. The training would also make girls fit to teach their sisters in kaingas, and put out various things which were destroying the Maoris, as, for instance the communistic manner of living. As Minister for Education, and head of the Government, he was satisfied that more schools for Maori girls should be established throughout the eolonye It had been said that the Turakina school could accommodate more girls than had come forward, and he therefore promised tho further inducement of .five additional scholarships. He referred to the fact that a fourth standard pass was a necessary qualification for a scholarship, and hinted that if this was found too high the condition might be altered. Referring to a remark made earlier in the proceedings by a Maori speaker, viz., that the Government should assist the Maoris in every way, Mr Seddon said young Maoris should follow the examples of their fathers. In the old days Maoris had been exporters of grain to Australia, but what were tho young Maoris doing now ? The young men, by the way in which they lived, were helping to degenerate the raGe. They should look at the past history of the Maoris, and follow in the footsteps of their ancestors, and not allow themselves to become a reproach to a noble race which the people of the colony were anxious to preserve. Mr Seddon, speaking to the Maoris, warned them against the tohunga, who was the greatest curse the natives, had to deal with. The tohunga’s influence could only be overcome by removal of superstition, and that end would be attained by schools Buch aB that being opened. Therefore, said Mr Seddon, it behoved tho Maoris to support • the school, and do everything in their power to promote its growth-