MAORI PLACE-NAMES

Hokitika Guardian, 4 October 1929, Page 3

MAORI PLACE-NAMES

A TEACHER’S COMPLAINT.-

AUCKLAND, October 2.

A claim that the correct pronunciation of Maori names in the’speech qf training college students, was regarded by headmasters and school inspectors as affectation was made" by MrD. M. Rae, principal of the Auckland Training College, in a letter to the Auckland Education Board. V

The Education Department, said the writer, recently brought under tljp notice of training colleges the desirability of securing in schools the correct pronunciation- of Maori. Each year a lecture was given to outgoing by a well-known and authoritative Mftori scholar, Mr Wallace, otf Remuera. The lecturer dealt with the general! rules of pronouncing Maori place-names and their history. Mr j. W. Shaw, Lect'irhr in English Literature, included in his syllabus the pronunciation of Maori names, and his,,enthusiastic work in this direction had been going on for nine years. As a result, students left the college with an adequate knowledge of the subject, only to find that many inspectors, headmasters, .and the general vublic looked upon the correct pronunciation of Maori names as mere affectation. “ i would suggest,” he said, “if it is seriously intended to check .the rapid anglicisation o| Maori names, inspectors and headmasters should be asked to follow up more definitely the. work being done.” • ■ It was decided to forward the’ letter to the Department.