POLYNESIAN ETHNOLOGY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14281, 1 August 1908, Page 10

POLYNESIAN ETHNOLOGY.

«. A HAPr-Y SUGGESTION. (Per United Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH. July SI. Mr Ngata, M.P., made a suggestion at the close of his lecture in Canterbury College Hall last evening that a Chair of Polynesian Ethnology should bo established by the Now Zealand University. He was a.ware that financial considerations had to be looked at, but it was unfortunate that New Zeaiandors should bo loft in ignorance of the great race that was living almost at their doors. Tho study of the olassics, Latin and Greek, was popular in tltc oolleges, but it would be more interesting if the students, from matriculation to the B.A degree, were allowed to specialise in Maori! Mr G. W. Russell (chairman 0 f the Board of Governors) said that tho difficulty was that the Now Zealand University was a kind of impalpable thing. If Mr Ngata would get the Government to endow the chair with £1000, he felt sure that Cantor, bury College would be prepared to provide the-necessary, buildias and take the proposal up at once.