Social And Colour Bar

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31316, 11 March 1967, Page 3

Social And Colour Bar

(N.Z. Press Association) WELLINGTON, Mar. 10. An ugly social and colour bar would divide the Maori and pakeha communities unless the widening education gap between them was closed, said Mr E. H. Nepia, today. Mr Nepia is chairman of the Wellington region of the Post-primary Teachers’ Association. Mr Nepia called for the provision of state scholarships to enable promising young Maori pupils to spend at least one sixth-form year boarding with

an approved pakeha family while attending a city school. He intends to bring a remit at the national conference of the association in August, to this effect

“The Maori pupil who has been brought up in a totally European environment is holding his own very well with the European pupil,” said Mr Nepia, “but the pupil who is failing to measure up comes from a non-pakeha upbringing.” Mr Nepia, who has four young children, said little has been done to tackle the problem.

“We have been too prone,” he said, “to tackle this within the post-primary school life of the pupil, and have not reached out Into the pre-

school area, where the trouble begins.” The result was that the Maori child had been going forward ill prepared, half prepared, or badly prepared. Many people were already carrying out his suggestion voluntarily, said Mr Nepia, but not all could afford it “I want the Government to finance the scheme,” he said. “It’s never been tried before, and so far as I know this is the first time it’s been brought to the attention of the public.”