NATIVE AFFAIRS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 1, Issue 46, 7 August 1939, Page 3

NATIVE AFFAIRS

ADMINISTRATION CRITICISED ''NEEDS A BRUSH UP" The opening of a new native school at the. small settlement of Rangiatua near Wairoa, was an important occasion for the district last Saturday» for it marked the completion of many years' effort to give the children of the district facilities for education more in, keeping with other parts of the Dominion. The new school comprises two class rooms of the modern opcil-air type, and serves three pas, the pupils numbering 48. The building was officially opened by Sir Apirana Ngata, M.P., white the Minister of Education was sented at the gathering by Mr'E. L. Cullcn, M.P. The Mayor of Wairoa. Mr H. L. presided and the Wairoa County Council was represent ed by Cr D. V. Thomas. The official party was greeted in traditional Maori fashion, which was followed by several waiatas and poi dances executed by the pupils of the school. RAP OVER KNUCKLES. Mr Cullen said he did not think there was any European member of the House of Representatives who was so critical of the administration of native affairs as himself. He had been so critical in fact as to get a rap over the knuckles from his own party, but he felt that those raps over the? knuckles were really worth while. There were many ways in which he did not agree with the administration, but so far as he was concerned, the native question in the House was not a party one. He certainly thought the administration needed a brush up. The native development schemes, he added ( had a reflection in every pa, and too, needed a brush up and a pretty big brush up at that.. He had the distinction of having started his education in a native school at Nuhaka and he had seen boys and girls' from that school grow up and make a mark for themselves in the world. They were examples to the young Maori children. SIR A. NGATA. Speaking of education Sir Apirana stated that in h's opinion there was a growing tendency to expect it to do the job parents should be doing in the home. To-dav, too they were looking to the schools to do what the parsons shoul.l be doing. They were also trying to inculcate in the cliil-' dren a knowledge of the Maori language, which was something else that should be done in the home. , They were also looking to the schools to inculcate in the minds of the children the idea pf health and cleanliness in the home. It was, he said,, not much good building good houses for the Maori if be could not look after them, and he would say that W per ccnt of the Manx's going into these houses could not look after them. They had to look to the schools to right this deficiency. He agreed that there was a tremendous to be done and he hoped Mr Cullen would wave Ms broom over the Department of Education as well as over the Native Department.