NORTH AUCKLAND MAORIS

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 925, 19 March 1930, Page 8

NORTH AUCKLAND MAORIS

STANDARD OF , LIVING PROBLEMS EDUCATION A SOLUTION Prom Our Resident Reporter WELLINGTON. Today. ’ The standard of living among the Maoris in the Far North and the problem of raising it to a satisfactory level was discussed yesterday by the Director of Education, Air. T. B. Strong, who has returned from a three weeks’ tour of the native schools in the North Auckland district. As a result of the scanty living at present returned by gum-digging, said Air. Strong, many c-f the natives who did not own farms were in a state of poverty. The raising of the general standard was a problem that the schools should do much to solve. “The native school teachers,” continued Air, Strong, “deserve tl.e highest praise for the work they are doing in the various native committees. The church secondary schools for Alaoris, such as those in Auckland. Napier and Alarton, are doing splendid work tc* «et before the girls a better standard of living, but in the North Auckland district at all events it is net unusual for such girls on returning home to find it impossible to alter the habits! of their parents.” HIGHER STANDARD . “It appears to me,” added Mr# -Strong, “that the two great problems facing those who have any interest in the native race in the Far North are firstly how to provide every native family with sufficient, land for their modest mean**, and second.y how to induce them to adopt a higher standard of comfort in their homes. Fo long as the natives live as so many of them do in insanitary houses, so long may we expect the race to be re. duced in strength ty disease. “The Young Maori Party is a very! active and useful body v/hich undoubtedly has the welfare of the native race at heart, but it appears to me that too much attention is being given by this organisation to tl.e question of the retention of the Maori language, to the provision of academic education in secondary schools and universities, and not enough is being dene to solve the problems that more deeply concern the welfare of the race.” The director said it was very gratis fying to find that the church authonlies who were controlling two secondary schools for Maori boys in tn€» Auckland district, namely. -k Stephen’s School and Wesley CoVege, Paerata, had decided to make instruction in farming an essential feature 0.. their schools. Queen Victoria School* Auckland, was visited by the director, who had been pleased to note the phasis that was placed there on tna household arts.