Action On Colour Bar

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30445, 20 May 1964, Page 3

Action On Colour Bar

(NJi. Press .Assn'.—Copyright) WANGANUI, May 19. “As far as 1 can, I am determined to stamp out race prejudice where it exists,” the Minister of Maori Affairs (Mr Hanan) said at Ratana pa today. ‘‘Sometimes we hear of 'instances of race prejudice. This frequently cannot be stamped out by legislation. “However, where it ean be curbed by legislation, by Government example .or by public exposure, 1 am deter--mined to curb it. Already we have made it an offence for any hotel to deny service to any person on grounds of race or colour.

“Our aim is, quite simply, to bring about full equality between -Maori and pakeha.” The main problem facing the Maori people today .stemmed from their general lack of education beyond fourth-form level which made it impossible for more, than a few Maoris to obtain -other than- unskilled work," said Mr Hanan.

“1 atn glad to report there is a growing concern among many educationists of the need to give special attention to the difficulties facing Maori pupils. “There is no doubt some of the shortcoming in Maori education attainment arise from the fact that often the of the shortcomings in Maori child have not been catered for, particularly the need for

special techniques in teaching him English.” Unless education was adapted to suit the child, the child' would not get the benefit he should frorii school attendance. In the long run, education would do more than any one thing to , advance Maori'Welfare and bring full facial equality

“To drive forward on the educational front we set up the Maori Education Foundation,” said Mr Hanan. “It was predicted ' from the outset that its value would be as much inspirational as utilitarian. That has ' now been proved.” So far in its two and a half years of operation, the foundation had made 1287 awards costing £91,303. Special trade training schemes played a vital role and the results of these had been spectacular. Six trades were' now being taught: carpentry, plumbing, electrical wiring, motor engineering, panel-beating and painting and decorating. This year 132 boys entered the schools. In the last four years the numbers entering had increased more than sixfold. A total of 190 boys bad already graduated from them and were now working at their trades.

“Without these special schemes, these boys, because of the isolated districts from which they come, would not have an opportunity to take up skilled trades. The fact that . the trainees generally achieve better results in the examinations than other apprentices is further evid-

ence of the worth of Wiese courses,” said Mr Hanan. “Despite present good pro--gress, these special facilities need to be extended before Maoris are adequately represented in technical employment.

“Over the last three years I have come to have a deeper appreciation of the ' hopes of the Maori .people. I have realised that there is much, of the old world that you want to retain and that I want you to retain. “Let me be emphatic. We do not want the Maori people integrated qut of existence,” said -Mr Hanan. .