MAORI RACE

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 7, 8 July 1938, Page 6

MAORI RACE

FUTURE NEEDS

EDUCATION SYSTEM

The experience of the Hon. F, E. O'Flynn (Canterbury) as a schoolmaster enabled him to discuss the future of education for the Maori race in the Legislative Council yesterday afternoon. Mr. O'Flynn urged greater facilities in Native schools, more Native teachers, smaller classes, and W.E.A. classes for adult Maoris.

The Maori race would never be at its best until the Maoris were thoroughly educated, Mr. O'Flynn said, and he considered the Education Department was to be congratulated on what was being done and what was forecast for the future. Many people did not realise that many Maoris still lived sequestered lives in the backblocks where they seldom came in contact with Europeans. The Chief Inspector of Native Schools had reported that health conditions and sanitation faci.lities were poor in those districts, and that accommodation, social life, and recreational facilities were deficient. The Maoris lived in too narrow a compass and more should be done for their physical welfare. It had been said that the most important three years in a person's life were the first three, and if those years were spent by Maori children in unsuitable conditions they would be handicapped in later life,

The improvement of conditions was progressing but there was need for still more. The Maoris should not be asked to adopt a complete European life and more Maori teachers should be trained so that Maori philosophy and culture could be preserved for future generations. So that the best could be got from teaching, the classes should be reduced in size, and efforts should be made to supply adult education." He suggested an extension of the W.E.A. classes for the benefit of the Maoris.