MAORI EDUCATION

Wairarapa Times-Age, 26 January 1940, Page 7

MAORI EDUCATION

ADMINISTRATION OF TRUSTS

SCHOLARSHIPS OUTSIDE THE WAIRARAPA.

DISTRICT PROTEST URGED

“A notification lliat scholarships will be available for three .Maori boys and three Maori girls tenable al secondary schools outside the Wairarapa district indicates a significant change in policy by the Papawai and Kaikokirikiri Trusts Board, who are providing these funds form far in revenue in the Wairarapa Valley, part of the lands being situated within the Borough of .Masterton.'’ Mr K. C. Daniell observed in an interview with a ‘'Times-Age" representative.

“When Sir George Grey came to the Wairarapa to negotiate with the Maoris the first sale of land; for close settlement," Mr Daniell continued, “areas at Papawai and Akura were set aside by Crown grant dated June 14, 1853, which recited that a college was about to be established in the Wairarapa Valley for the education of children of all races, named Bishop Selwyn and his successors as trustee and gave authority for the 'rents issues and proceeds from the said lands' to be expended toward the maintenance and support of the college so long as 'religious education, industrial training and instruction in the English language’ should be given to the youth educated therein or maintained thereat. EXPERIENCE ELSEWHERE. "Trusts established under similar conditions with conspicuously fine records are St Stephen's (near Pukekohe), Three Kings, Auckland (later transferred to Paerata) and Wanganui College. "Under the Religious and Educational Trusts Incorporation Act of 1884 the Papawai Trust Board acquired land at Clareville on which was erected and maintained a college, but the building was destroyed by fire in the year 1932 and the revenues have since been accumulated by the board "When the big depression of the early thirties passed away it was found that the capital value of property belonging to the Trust amounted to £28,000, a sum too small to provide ‘the maintenance and support’ of such a college as that mentioned in the original grant, for the average annual income was stated to be £lOOO.

"In 1937, the chairman of the Trust Board addressed meetings of the Maori people at Papawai and at Te Ore Ore, explaining the difficulties imposed by the limited income and proposing that the funds should be amalgamated with those of trust boards at Otaki and Porirua having a capital of £32.000 which boards were also finding difficulty in carrying out their trust deeds. The scheme was not acceptable to the Maoris present, but during the July, 1938, meeting of the Anglican Synod in Wellington, it was approved, subject to the necessary legislative sanction. A PROPOSED HOSTEL. "Telegraphic protest was made by the Mayor of Masterton and others, who stated that adequate secondary school facilities were available in the Wairarapa 'for the children of all races’ and making tentative suggestions to assist a scheme for a Maori hostel under control of the Trust by way of peppercorn rental should such a hostel be deemed desirable to meet the purposes for which the Tnist was founded.

"These views were endorsed by Sir Apirana Ngata at a meeting held at Te Ore Ore on September 19, 1938. but at a conference in Masterton on November 11. between the chairman and some members of the Trust Board, with the Mayor and others, the meeting was informed that ’the scholarship system could be given a trial and dropped if on fuller examination the proposals now being discussed were found practicable and suitable.’

"The chairman of the Trust stated that he had discussed the matter with Sir A.pirana Ngata who was now ‘disposed to vary the view expressed . . .

and was definitely of opinion that a few Maori schools such as Te Ante and Hukarere were best for the Maori people.’

"Subsequent to the meeting, those in Masterton were informed that legislative approval would be sought for the scholarship system; this has not yet been obtained but it is stated that a Ministerial promise has been given to validate expenditure on scholarships. The scheme for amalgamation with the West Coast Trust appears to have been dropped. "The foregoing brief history seems to show that the success of similar trusts in other districts cannot be claimed, and no outstanding mark has been made in the education of the Maori people of the Wairarapa. whose standard of life and social hygiene is lamentably lower than that of the Eupropeans among whom they dwell. "The scholarship proposals virtually claim that education such as that anticipated in the grant of 1853 is not available in the Wairarapa. that what was intended to benefit the whole race will become the privilege of the few and that in 1940 it is necessary to take Maori pupils to another district, removed from the people among whom they are to live and work, before they can" be expected to receive the training so vitally necessary today to uplift. 'heir people. EDUCATIONAL PROGRESS. "The inglorious record of this Trust Board might seem to confirm this as i fact, but before accepting such a judgment as final, a brief review of European education in the same disrid over the same period might be of interest.

I’be settlement of Wellington in 1840 was followed by misunderstanding with the Maori people, leading to war on a minor scale, and when a brief dozen years later, organised settlement was attempted in the Wairarapa. the first need of the Maori was civilisation, and the church the proved and recognised instrument for such a purpose.

"There was no State education, as v,e understood the term. ’free, secular and compulsory’ either in New Zealand or in England for many years after that date, and the church and local authorities controlled the educational system,

“New Zealand outstripped England in its changes of system, particularly in secondary education, and during ;he intervening years added technical education to academic, first (in the early nineties) by way of separate schools and later by the gradual introduction of technical subjects mto primary schools leading on to secondary schools where combined training was obtainable, and in Wairarapa College today girls and boys compete on equal terms and the apprentice system is aided by well attended night classes. ’ "These schools are open to ah, Maori or European alike, and the playing fields are not only a joy to the eye, but of untold value in the promotion of health. "The Fapawai Trustees prefer the methods ol 1853 and advocate not only entire separation of the Maori from, the European for purpose of secondary education but entire separation of” the sexes. In this advocacy they .ire in striking contrast to daily scenes at Wairarapa College. Judging by past results, education of the Maori youth of secondary school age as a race apart has failed miserably and continuation of such a system should not be tolerated. A GOOD EXAMPLE. “Our own Trust Lands Trust is an example of what can be accomplished when the trend of modern thought is followed. Founded in 1871. with lands of much less potential value than the 'Fapawai Trust, this Trust has not attempted the establishment of schools, but has devoted very vigorous attention to the development of its property as a source of revenue, and with he funds thus obtained has given critical and sympathetic consideration o the needs of the various schools 'vithin its district, fostered and triumphantly forwarded the growth of echnical education till it merged into Wairarapa College, followed the more promising of district students not only :o distant universities but overseas, vith scholarships, and this combination of direct aid with scholarships where the necessary type of education las not been available within the district has proved highly satisfactory.

■Government audit of funds, an annial published statement of accounts elective control of its administrators with their local knowledge and pride n the institution they control, coupled vith public criticism of that control lave combined to create a record of which the whole district is proud.

They are not content to live in 1853. and by their vigour and enthusiism have helped to establish in Maslerton schools with records not excelled in the Dominion whether primary or secondary.

"The Papawai Trust should likewise be exposed to the searching blast ol public opinion, with its policy open tc criticism and review by those having local knowledge not only of its finance but of its objectives. "The people of the Wairarapa. bp making protest, can prevent the proposed transfer of funds, can demand fulfilment of the original purpose of the Trust with the Wairarapa Valley and if the present Trust is unwilling or unable to do this, let it surrender the position to some other trust which will at least make an attempt, by consultation with the Maori and European residents of the Wairarapa and by co-operation with the State, to give the Marr: people better opportunity than has keen their lot in the past.”