MAORIS IN THE NORTH.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20864, 5 May 1931, Page 12

MAORIS IN THE NORTH.

BISHOP'S PASTORAL VISIT.

INTEREST IN EDUCATION. AGRICULTURAL SCHOOL WANTED [from our own correspondent.] KAIKOHE, Monday. An extensive pastoral visit to the north was closed by the Rt. Rev. F. A. Bennett, Bishop of Aotearoa, on Sunday, when he preached morning and evening at Te lhiringa, a settlement in the Matarana Valley, near Kaikohe. There was a large gathering, not only of adherents of the Anglican Church, hut of Mormons and disciples of Ratana, who has a large following in the district. A large dining tent was erected and the visitors, as well as the bishop and his party, were entertained with lavish Maori hospitality. During the afternoon a conference was held, when mattors affecting the welfare of the Maori race were discussed in the lengthy and leisurely native fashion. These conferences have been a great feature of the bishop's tour and he has given wise and kindly counsel and advice.

In his sermons and addresses the bishop has dealt -very faithfully with the faults of the Maori, urging on them a higher standard of Christian living and a better conception of Christian duty. Incidentally, he warned them against being led away by the bad example of the pakeha in the matter of Sunday games. About 300 Confirmation Candidates. One thing that seems to have impressed the Maoris deeply during the visit was the confirmation services. Previously these had suffered in their eyes from the fact that of necessity they had required the service of interpreters. Now, wholly conducted in their own tongue, the rite makes a strong appeal to them and about 300 candidates camo forward during the bishop's northern tour. Some quite elderly Maoris, who had been confirmed in their youth, expressed a strong desire that the hands of a bishop of their own race might be laid on their heads in blessing. One significant feature of the conferences was the great interest displayed in educational matters. At Te Iliiringa one grievance very freely ventilated was the raising of the yearly fees at yt. Stephen's School from £35 to £63. As most of the northern natives are poor, this practically shuts out their children, if they do not gain scholarships, from the benefits of higher education. It was urged that if the higher fee was necessitated by the removal of the school to Bombay, it would havo been better to have left it on the old site in Auckland. It was felt, also, that the north did not get its fair share educationally from the income of the £90,000 in the hands of the Native Purposes Board, of which Bishop Bennett is a member, though the bishop stated that if this was so, the fault was their own in not pressing their claims. The board made the best use possible of the fund according to the information at its disposal. Education and Agriculture.

There was a widely supported movement in the Kailcohe district for the establishment of an agricultural high school to serve the needs of the whole of this part of the north. Since the Consolidation Board commenced its work of transforming the largely useless interests of the Maoris in scattered pieces of land into compact sections, from which it is possible for them to gain a living by dairying, great interest is being displayed in farming, and there is a real desire that the younger genetation should have the opportunity of better training. There was, therefore, deep disappointment when Sir Apirana Ngata stated that he held out no hope of a school being established, saying that Te Aute College fully met their needs. At Whirinaka, near Hokianga, it was pointed out to the bishop that at the end of last century a technical school for Maoris had been established and had been very successful. The teacher, Mr. Winklemaiui, was a Yorkshireman, who had devoted himself to the task of Maori education arid he is still held in affectionate remembrance. It was asked if this work could not be revived. A teacher with technical qualifications, especially in agricultural subjects, might lie appointed, a.nd his work would be both valuable and appreciated. " One lias to work now with his brain as well as his hands," said an old Maori.

Significant, too, is the interest displayed in the School of Maori Crafts and the keen desire that the old art of Maori carving should be revived in the north. There is no doubt that the spirit of progress is abroad among the younger Maori leaders and they are turning now to the Church as a guide and leader in other than purely religious matters.