WHITE VERSUS BROWN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9166, 22 September 1888, Page 6

WHITE VERSUS BROWN.

RIGHT OF MAORIS TO ADMISSION TO THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

EDUCATIONAL EMBROGLIO AT ROTORUA.

The following correspondence will be read with interest respecting: the right of Maoris to admission to the European public schools of the colony :—

" Wellington, September 12, 1888. To the Secretary, Education Board, Auckland : The Ohinemutu native school being closed, I told the committee that their children could attend the public school. In reply they request me to speak a word on their behalf, because (as they allege) their children have been refused admittance to the public school. Will you please, if there is any ground for this allegation, do what you can to secure these children in the enjoyment of their rights.—l have, etc., W. Jas. Habens. "

"Rotorua, 27th February, 1888. The Secretary Board of Education, Auckland. Sir, —Are Maori children to be admitted to school ? At a meeting of the Rotorua District School Committee, held last Friday, the question was raised as to the right "of Maori children to attend the public school. A section of the Committee was anxious to immediately expel the Maori children now attending the school, but an amendment was carried by my casting vote to refer the matter for the opinion of the Board. Personally, I feel no doubt as to the right of Maoris, under section 10 of the ' Education Act, 1877,' to send their children to tho public school, if they so desire. Messrs. W. Kelly, M.H. R., and J. Mcßae threatened that, if the amendment to their proposition were carried, they would withdraw their children (numbering 10) from the school pending the settlement of the question, and that, if the Board upheld the right of Maori .children to attend, they would make arrangements for their education privately. They have so far carried out their threat, but that they stand almost alone in their action is fully proved by the attendance of 35 children at school to-day. Hitherto the Maoris have not been aware that they had a right under the Act to send their children to the public school, and the few admissions have been looked upon as favours granted to those who were anxious that their children should receive a better education than is obtainable at the native school, where the discipline is very lax. Looking forward to the time, probably not far distant, when the native school will be closed, I think that the introduction of the Maori children to the public school by degrees will prove most advantageous, as their being thoroughly broken in to the work will make it easier to deal with fresh accessions in larger numbers. At the present time there are five young boys attending the school, of whom three are Maoris, and one is a three-quarter-caste, and one a half-caste, living as members of a native tribe. Another young Maori boy is on the roll, but has not attended lately. Messrs. Kelly and Mcßae are afraid that their children will be contaminated by associating with Maori children at school, but I would venture to suggest to them (the latter more especially) that contamination of a far worse nature is likely to result from children living in a public-house, where they must constantly see and hear what goes on when drunken Maoris or Europeans are about the premises. So far as the Maori children now attending tho school are concerned 1 understand that they are well behaved, and are making very good progress. An attempt was made to attach blamein this matter to Mr. Webber, the headteacher, but I at once informed the committee that I took the sole responsibility, as he had simply acted under my instructions. I further stated that it never occurred to mo to be necessary to consult the Committee upon the subject, as I had not the slightest doubt in my mind as to the proper interpretation of the clause in the Act beforementioned. Mr. Kelly said that he supposed I would next rule that Maoris were entitled to vote as "householders" at the annual meeting, to which I replied that the term was held to cover parents and guardians of children, and that I certainly thought that, if Maoris were eligible to vote for a member of Parliament, they were good enough to vote for members of a School Committee. I also thought that if the unification of the two races under the one law were really desired, there could be no better way than by bringing the Maori children into the public schools wherever possible. The secretary to the Committee will communicate with you upon this matter in terms of the amendment which was carried, and I trust that you will impress upon the Board the desirableness of giving a definite decision without delay. — I am, etc., H. Dunbar Johnson, Chairman Rotorua District School Committee."

" Rotorua District School Committee, "24th February, 1888. To the Secretary of the Board of Education, Auckland. Sir, — I have the honour to state that at the monthly meeting of the district School Committee held to-day, a question arose which caused considerable bitterness of feeling amongst the members, and is likely to materially affect the progress and the usefulness of the school, unless a decision satisfactory to the European parents of the pupils is arrived at at an early date. It appears that some of the native chiefs of this place sometime ago expressed their desire to the Chairman of the Committee, to have their children admitted to the European school, and that accordingly he, believing the Education Act sanctioned the step, made arrangements with the teacher for the admittance of first one, and subsequently a few days ago, other two boys. The subject was introduced and discussed to-day, resulting in Mr. ffm. Kelly moving the following resolution, seconded by Mr. Mcßae, viz. : " That Mr. Webber (the master) be instructed to return the native boys to their own school without delay." To which the following amendment was moved by Mr. Brent, seconded by Mr. Johnson (the chairman), viz., 'That the secretary should first write to the Board of Education, asking if it was right and proper, and in accordance with the Act, to admit Maori children to a European school in a district where a native school was provided, and that meanwhile, pending a reply, no more native pupils be admitted.' The amendment was carried by the chairman's casting vote. Messrs. Kelly and Mcßae then notified that, pending the receipt of the Board's reply, they would withdraw their children (numbering ten) from the school, and that if Maori children were to be admitted to the European school in future, they would have to make other arrangements for the education ol their own. I have reason to believe that a similar feeling exists amongst many of the parents whose children are attending the school, so that the Board's decision regarding the matter is certain to have a most important bearing on its future well-being and progress. An early reply is anxiously waited for.—lam, etc., F. B. Scott, Hon. Secretary and Treasurer." " To the Chairman of the District School Committee, Rotorua. Sir, —I am directed to acknowledge the receipt of your letter, dated 24th February, in reference to the admission of Maori children to the school. In reply, I am directed to refer the committee to section 10 of the Education Act, 1877, which declares that 'Any Maori shall be at liberty to send his children to a public school under this Act, subject to the regulations for the time being in force in such school.' Section 87 of the Act provides that the teacher may ' expel, or forbid the attendance of, any child for want of cleanliness, or who may be likely to communicate any contagious disease, or who from gross misconduct or incorrigible disobedience may be considered an injurious or dangerous example to the other scholars.' I am also directed to refer the committee to section 74 of the Act which states that, ' subject to the general supervision and control of the Board, and to inspection by an inspector, as hereto provided, the committee shall have the management of educational matters within the school district.' —I have, etc. (signed), Vincent E. Rice, Secretary."