A HAPPY BAND.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 3 October 1924, Page 2

A HAPPY BAND.

EDUCATION OF ISLANDERS. (BY TELEGRAPH—PRESS ASSOCIATION.) AUCKLAND, Oct. 2. The state of primary school education in Fiji and Samoa was discussed by Mr. T. B. Strong, chief inspector of primary schools in New Zealand, who returned by the Tofua. Mr. Strong went recently to inspect the schools and further organise education in Fiji and SamoaUnder arrangement with the Fiji Administration New Zealand, has undertaken to place European schools in Suva and place them on a satisfactory footing by supplying an efficient staff of teachers, said Mr. Strong. This ha s now been done and the schools are running very smoothly. The New Zealand teachers in Suva, (Mr Strong says, form a very happy baud', and are being hospitably "treated both in official and in social circles. The Methodist Mission College, some miles out 'of Suva, is, Mr. Strong says, a wonderful institution, providing not only traiiiing for native and Indian pastors and teachers', but also excellent industrial training for native Fijians. Recently the college extended its activities by taking over from the Government an experimental farm, on which the mission intends to train promising Fijian youths. After attending the Australian conference of school inspectors at Brisbane Mr. Strong went to Western Samoa. He says that General Riehafdson, the Administrator, i s taking a very keen interest in education and in the general uplift of the native Samoans. He has already won their confidence, and they are willingly seconding his efforts to improve the villages and main lines of communication. The success of the' Government medical staff in gradually ridding the natives of hookworm has undoubtedly done as much as anything to earn the gratitude and respect of Samoans. Everywhere he went Mr. Strong found the natives most anxious to secure an improvement in their schools, and this laudable desire was undoubtedly due to the zeal of the missions in establishing schools in all the islands. The Government was co-operating, with the missions in providing training schools for native teachers, and high primary and industrial training for native pupils. Mr. Strong will report to> the department on the education of both Europeans and natives of the Islands, and will put forward proposals to effect further improvements.