Education Advocated To Assist Maoris

Press, Issue 30997, 1 March 1966, Page 18

Education Advocated To Assist Maoris

“The Press" Special Service

AUCKLAND, Feb. 28. With education the Maoris will rise from being hewers of wood and drawers of water and will fill higher-paid petitions, according to a Justice Department report presented by Dr. M. Bennett, chaplain at Waikeria Prison, to the Maori section of the National Council of Churches. The present generation of Maoris was in a state of transition from the old to the new and future generations would overcome the disparity through education, said the report. Poor housing also added to the difficulties of the Maori who found it hard to own a home because of Government restrictions. There was need for help and advice at primary school level before unsettled children came under the notice of the courts. There could be a considerable reduction in the number of young offenders. The churches should make a fresh approach to young Maoris who were outside their influence. Chaplains had found that most offenders had no dose church connexions. Penal institutions over the years had little value except in keeping prisoners segregated from the public. The real job of prison chaplains was to keep men from becoming criminals. The more people who could be helped outside prisons the better it would be for their rehabilitation. First offenders especially should be moved before they became settled into prison Me.

The report showed that about 35 per cent of those entering prisons last year were Maoris.

The percentage was the same as the previous year so it appeared that the crime rate was being held. Dr. Bennett said there was a real relationship between chaplain, prison staff and prisoners and there were few occasions when chaplains felt unwanted.

The Rev. E. S. Hoddinott, senior prison chaplain, blamed lack of education and larger families for the big proportion of young Maori offenders.

The average white earned about £2OO a year more than the Maori who relied mainly on his hands for his income. The average Maori had a family of five compared with three for white; so less income had to go further.