MAORI MEMORIES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 2 November 1940, Page 8

MAORI MEMORIES

RAGGED SCHOOLS AND LOAFERS. (Recorded by J.H.S., ol Palmerston North, for the “Times-Age.”) Mission schools for Maori children were established in the 40’s, in which the scholars were supposed to be wholly maintained by Government funds, which were totally inadequate for the purpose. Each denomination carried out a system of converting the children and parents to its own church with the result that every school was painfully over-crowded. Food, clothing and quarters were far below that provided at their homes in the Pa. The results were, of course, utter failures. By reason of more funds a few of them did good work; but in the end all were doomed to failure. The parents soon realised that academic subjects, rather than handcraft and business, were worse than useless to their sons and daughters. In the end the Maoris grew so distrustful of any gifts or assistance from the Government, that the surviving Catholic teachers had to make it appear that the good Bishop Pompallier was their only benefactor, otherwise all such help would be refused. Politics were supposed to be taught to Maori men and women by a newsprint “The Maori Messenger" in parallel columns of Maori and English. Despite all attempts to improve this rag, no really capable Englishman could then, be-found to edit or translate it. Of course the editor was subject to the direct rule of our timid Government whose main care was not to offend any Maori tribe or any church mission. The Government weakness and lack of initiative led to the Maori wars, and the desire to be ruled by a Maori King. The “flour and sugar” policy resulted in converting Maori workers into loafers and leaners.