Comments on Maori pupils cause row

Press, 15 February 1984, Page 20

Comments on Maori pupils cause row

PA Auckland Six complaints have been made to the Race Relations Conciliator about comments made by the headmaster of Auckland Grammer School. Mr John Graham, that Maoris failed examinations because they were lazy.

Mr E. P. Twist, the senior investigating officer for the conciliator’s office, said that it was unsual to have that number of complaints on one issue.

The “New Zealand Times” quoted Mr Graham as saying, “The reason Maoris are failing (examinations) is because they are lazy. But it would not make any difference whether examination papers were printed in Maori, because that is not the point. They are just lazy. If you attack a system because one section cannot handle it, look at that section rather than the system.”

The Citizens' Association for Racial Equality and the leader of the Mana Motuhake Party, Mr Matiu Rata, have laid complaints with the Race Relations conciliator, Mr Hiwi Tauroa.

An Auckland Metropolitan College student who recently interviewed Mr Graham for a school project on the education system has also laid a complaint. The secretary of C.A.R.E.,

Mr lan Mitchell, said that the comments were “grossly offensive and cast a slur on the integrity of hardworking Maori people.” Dr Rangi Walker, chairman of the Auckland District Maori Council, said that he had been asked to lead a deputation of Maori university graduates who want to meet Mr Graham to obtain a public apology.

The Auckland chairman of the Post-Primary Teachers’ Association, Ms Maryan Street, said that Mr Graham should seriously consider giving up either what she termed his racist attitude or his post as headmaster.

Mr Graham said yesterday that he did not want to enter a public debate on the issue.

However, he was annoyed that those complaining had not approached him to find out what he had said — how and why.