MAORIS PRAISED

Wairarapa Times-Age, 18 July 1938, Page 6

MAORIS PRAISED

PROGRESS OF DEVELOPMENT SCHEMES. MINISTER OF EDUCATION AT MURUPARA. ROTORUA, This Day. The Minister of Education (the Hon P. Fraser) received an enthusiastic reception at Murupara when he officially opened four buildings —a new Native school, a small meeting house erected by pupils, the first six cottages built under a Native development scheme and also a new home for the reecntly appointed District Nurse. For the opening of the meeting house, many of the older and picturesque ceremonies of the Maori race were revived, Mr Fraser being presented with a carved paddle and a carved table lamp by the Ngatimanawa people. The Minister paid a tribute to the excellent work of the Native school teachers, which, he said, was not excelled in any other Native school in the Dominion. He hoped the time would come when all children, pakeha as well as Maori, would receive secondary education in their own districts. Referring to Native land development, Mr Fraser said the progress which had been made at Murupara was incredible. He had been told by Mr A. F. Blackburn, Chief Supervisor of the Native Department, that the scheme had made more progress than any other, 500 acres being already grassed and 450 acres under the plough, ready for grassing next season. Already 16,000 sheep and 260 head of cattle were being carried. The Minister said that what was being done in the development of Native lands amounted practically to a rebirth of the Native race. 1 The scheme had the full co-operation of the Government. He hoped every Maori boy not employed in working on the land would be trained and employed in erecting good homes for Native farmers. Mr Fraser also paid a tribute to the wonderful work being done by district nurses throughout tne Dominion.