A DOOMED RACE

Hokitika Guardian, 21 July 1936, Page 6

A DOOMED RACE

aborigines DRIFT HONOLULU, July 20. ‘The drift of the Australian aborigines, which is accelerated by-employers, ! missionaries, the police ami the goals, must be stopped or the race is doomed, said Professor Elkin, of Sydney University, at the Anthropological Conference to-day. “Australia’s native education policy needs overhauling, and must aim at replacing ‘attraction by ‘conscious adaption. But would the -whites welcome this?” he added. Speaking on' the subject of “The Changing Aboriginal,” Professor Eikin deprecated the use of the term “nomadic,” as if it implied inability on the part of the aboriginal to advance socially. Food-gathering was the important fact around which his social, econoniitf, | and religious life was woven. , v [ After referring to the direct causes !of the aboriginal decrease, Professor Elkin emphasised the psychological injury done by the iguorant and callous undermining of native beliefs. “Even economic interference shakes the native’s religious faith,” he added, “because our economics apparently are | not related to religion in the same way 1 as the aboriginal economics are. “A change in any aspect of aboriginal life has an intellectual and religious, effect, and." therefore, should be accompanied by education. “Aborigines are tied to their own countries by spiritual .bonds, and yet they are irresistibly attracted by white settlements. “Therefore reserves are useless without organised settlements.and schools. “Education must enable the ahori- , giries to make a new adaption to ! life as it has been changed by the j whites, but so far it has been ineffective.” < Mr AY. C. Groves, Research Fellow in Anthronology. said that there was no education policy in the Mandated Territory of New Guinea. The Administration was doing almost nothing- . Alissions alone provided education ' for natives in general. They often > | showed splendid results, but neither ' Government guidance nor subsidy was given. ": , Co-operatiofi was necessary, and ' also methods and curricula based on the life and neecD. of the natives. “Australia has the opportunity to ! learn from the experience of other countries,’ and should-act seriouslv, not haphazardly,” concluded- Air Groves.