“DANGER OF THE COLOR LINE.”

Gisborne Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 3638, 26 September 1912, Page 5

“DANGER OF THE COLOR LINE.”

THE NATIVE SCHOOLS

A QUESTION OF CONTROL.

[PEE PEESS ASSOCIATION.] WELLINGTON, Sept. 25

Speaking on the subject of Native schools iu the House of Representatives this evening Hon. A. T. Ngata urged the Government not to give effect to the recommendation of the Education Commission to transfer the control of Native schools as rapidly as possible from the Education Department to the Education Boards.

Mr Ngata recommended tho Minister for Education to visit during the recess some of the districts in which these schools exist so that ho might determine l’rohi personal observation whether it would ho wisest to push on with tho present policy of transferring Native schools as rapidly as possible to the control of the boards, or to somewhat delay the pro ess. Mr Ngata declared himself in favor of the latter policy. There was a suspicion in the minds of the Maoris, he stated, that Native children did not receive tho same attention at Board schools as at their own schools. Mr Ngata added that there was a danger of a color lino being drawn in tho schools under t]io control of the Department. In a discussion some years ago members had deprecated any such distinction being made. At the present time, however, in parts of the Bay of Plenty there was a disposition to demand the segregation of Maori children. Any proposal of this kind should ho discouraged. Ho was not opposing the transfer of Native schools to the control of Education Boards from any wish to draw a color line, but because he thought an abrupt transfer unwise.

Dr. To Rangihiroa spoke in a similar strain. He agreed with Air JNgata in supporting the policy enunciated by Hon. G. Few Ids (when ho was Minister for Education) of retaining the Native schools under ‘the direct control of the Education _ Department. Figures showed conclusively that far better results were attained by Maori children at Native schools than at public schools. The reason was that at public schools Alaori children, to whom English was a foreign language, were placed side by side. with white children, who had obtained a colloquical knowledge of English in their own homes. In the Native schools special attention was paid to the beaching of English. Air MacDonald supported what had been said by the Native members.