CONFERENCE OF NATIVE TEACHERS.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVII, Issue 17, 20 January 1916, Page 7

CONFERENCE OF NATIVE TEACHERS.

... PRESIDENTS ADDRESS. QUESTION OF AFFILIATION. In continuation of his presidential address at the Native School Teachers' Conference at Parneil yesterday afternoon, Mr J. Mclntyre spoke interestingly of the Association. He detailed at some length the steps taken to form the body, and dwelt upon the good results which had followed the last conference at Kawakawa. He emphasised the deslraI bility of some unanimity of purpose amongst teachers and said that lie 'believed the meeting together in conference of teachers who ordinarily were widely separated would encourage good fellowship. Mr Mclntyre appealed to the teachers to set for themselves a high Christian ideal. He spoke of the influence of the native teacher 'n moulding Maori thought, and of the responsibilities which devolved upon them as the •representatives of European civilisation and of Christianity. The secretary, Mr Lester Gubb, reported tliat whereas at the end of the last financial year there were only 25 members of the Association there were now 125. It was gratifying to report, he said that the Association journal, "Te Waka Maori," had met with great success. The thanks of the members were due to the editor. Mr H. G. Cousins (president) and Mr Newton (secretary) of the New Zealand Educational Institute, detailed the nature of the advantages open to the members of the institution, and stressed particularly the desirability of co-opera-tion amongst all branches of the teaching profession. They said that they bad not come to try to persuade the native school teachers to become members of the institute, but -to advocate a general scheme for the federation of the interests of teachers.

Mr W. W. Bird, chief inspector of native schools, said tiiat he would support an affiliation scheme in which the Native School Teachers' Association could preserve its individuality. They were anxious to avoid an amalgamation with a larger body which would overlook the native teacher, but if there was to be a federation of the interests of the branches of the teaching profession iv the Dominion then the native teachers should not be left out. Mr C. Mahoney, of Rautoki, supported Mr Bird's remarks. On the motion of Mr Flood, of Te Ahuahu. seconded by Mr McNeish Walker, it was decided "that acomm'ttee -ould be appointed to discuss the question of affiliation with the New Zealand Teachers' Educational Institute, the committee to report to the Association." The committee appointed consisted of Messrs P. Flood. H. G. Vine, McNeish Walker and the secretary, ex-officio.