HIGHER EDUCATION FOR MAORIS.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 194, 11 May 1908, Page 2

HIGHER EDUCATION FOR MAORIS.

Sir,-Pin reading the .'interesting . nccourii '. of Sir R. Stout's conference' with the Mapria ' at Kaikohe,-I noticed particularly that ;'thd Maoris are awakening to the benefits, of higher education, but : complained that - at present they aro unable to qualify for uni- '• vcrsity training. This is '.jfcho.- crux of ' the whole matter. The colleges are of servico .only to those Who. know enough to appreciate tho 'work doiii;' at them. Gomo'years " ago I ondeivoured on Canterbury 1 College Board'.of Governors'to get special'scholar-" ships established for Maoris, but the feeling was that we wore too far from tho built " of the Maori population to'be .of reah service. '-Tho - position is ' one that can, however, easily be grappled ; .witlu>by '.the. . Government.- Thoy havo .a largo civil list fund for Maoris,' somo :of ; which could bo ' well spent' oh ' higher education.- To assist educational work amongst the' Natives— (1) The status of the Maori scjiools should bo raiV.ed, teachers being employed l who wero capable of giving instruction in the prelim-.-inary sections of higher v education to. talented and promising youths. (2) Residential high schtools for Maori - youths should be .established at Wellington and Auckland, and, if the scheme succeeded, at Napier and Now Plymouth; or existing institutions should be subsidised'with, the viow of supplying tho want. '' i (3) .Special Maori scholarships , should be - established, capable of being held at any university collogo in tho Dominion, 6ucn scholarships to cover the entire , cost. of education, including boarding, travelling expenses, etc. . " \ I submit 110 better investment can" bo made on behalf of tho Maori race than to " catch" early their talented youths, and train them in education,; moaiciuoi. . law, agricultural scienco, etc. Already several ot the Native race have passed through a university course, and have shown . tho un-i developed ■ potentialities of tho race.— I am, ctc> ! ' '■» 1 " G. W. RUSSELL, Chairman Canterbury College, ', . Christchurch May 4 1908. ' ' • •>.