ANOTHER (RAIWHATA NATIVE SCHOOL

New Zealand Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 5728, 25 October 1905, Page 2

ANOTHER (RAIWHATA NATIVE SCHOOL

(To the Editor "N,Z. Times,”) Sir, —I was glad to see "East Coaster's” r letter, as it will serve to draw others' attention to the above, and, when properly sorted, it rather strengthens the native contention. "It is the usual thing—we’ve got the land, and, now, as for your wants, well, we’ll see if you have any, and if you have we’ll attend to them when it suits ourselves. .... For some reason or other the white people about Kaiwhata have been against a native school there. ... I burn and grow wild when I think of all.” These are the very words as nearly as possible of an educated and intelligent native, who left East Coast way about four years ago, and told me how the three-acre site was given and of the promises that were 'at the time made. Will '‘East Coaster** say that they are'‘misleading and unjust to the Education Department,” as he said my version of them was? With his letter telling ua plainly that not a board of the building has as yet been put up, I can’t see how he can defend the Education Department, in whoso hands the whole thing has been for yeans; and with his own letter full of the opposing sentiments which, my well-versed informant so indignantly lashes in the "white people” there he strengthened the charge against; them. But tenders vtfero thrice called for the building by the Public Work© Department. says "East Coaster,” with no result by tender. Why. then, not put up this little job by day labour, a a that Department has done big works in numbers of places that way ? Their overseeing officers are always at command and carpenters could always be had, at least in country towns. There is no excuse in this point; for had it been a small po. s t office, as absolutely needed there as this email native school, the said Department would soon have had the whole finished, tenders or no tenders.

■ Is ext, ‘'East Coaster” is 'quite satisfied if the school be never built, as there are few white children there, and the average attendances at the three -schools on the East Coast are very low. Which is better, to give a due education to, gay, from 60 to 80 children pakeha ami Maori ah told, in four schools rightly distributed. but with small averages, or to shut all up and bring up these scattered children in total ignorance because no one of their schools can attain.a high average ? And are the few white children only lo be considered ? The three small schools on the East Coaat are there because they wore needed, and this fourth has long been asked for because it is needed,.and the Maoris at least do well-to demand it. Finally, "East Coaster” casts all the blame of things on the Maoris themselves. GJranted that their customs are against solid regularity in school work, a beginning must be made, and half a loaf is better than no broad. Matters Will 1)C altered m two generations from now, as native customs will gradually weaken

their hold on the better qualities which education will produce. Our duty is to findlc fires now which will psycologically tend to fit the coming generations for tho highest human moulds. But seeing there are many pakoha parents whoso heeU have to be dogged by compulsory education laws to send their children to school, “East Coaster” might begin his stoning ihcre. —I am, etc., EUR ONE WHO KNOWS. October ISth,