MAORI GIRLS’ COLLEGE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21267, 23 February 1931, Page 11

MAORI GIRLS’ COLLEGE.

INSTITUTION AT TARANAKI. PROJECT BEFORE METHODIST CONFEFENCE. ' At the meeting of the Methodist Conference on Saturday morning several speakers emphasised the necessity for the more complete education of Maori girls, particularly with respect to domestic science. The speakers were the Rev. A. J. Seamer, the general secretary of the church’s home mission department, the Rev. T. R. Richards, chairman of the Wellington Methodist Charitable and Educational Endowments Board, and Mr A. E. Hurley, a member of the board. In a report read by the last-named it was stated that there had been brought to the notice of the hoard facts which pointed to the need of the Taranaki district of a college for post primary Maori girls, in which a curriculum for the needs of the Native race should be provided. Since that time the board had prosecuted extensive inquiries upon many aspects of the proposal, and had caused an inspection to be made of several possible sites for such a college. The results of the investigation emphasised the lack of proper home control in the life of the Maori adolescent, and the absence of facilities for Maori girls to enter secondary boarding schools. This resulted in early marriage, which only tended to perpetuate the lack of proper home influence —a fact of great importance to the well-being of the Native race. It was felt that more should be done at present to equip the Maori girl for the responsibilities and duties of wifehood and motherhood, seeing that the State school training now given was more academic than practical. It was therefore the proposal of the board to erect a college for Maori girls of the age of 14 and upwards, who should be given instruction in all branches of domestic hygiene, nursing, and housewifery, English language, and Bible knowledge. For the convenience of the tutors and also for its rich historical associations, the neighbourhood of New Plymouth had been selected for a building to accommodate ultimately from 40 to 60 girls, with a two years’ course. The estimated initial expenditure in grounds, building, and equipment for about 20 girls was about £IO,OOO. The following resolutions, submitted by the Rev, A. J. Seamer, were unanimously adopted by the conference: — “ That conference rejoices to learn that not only has effective work been done during the year by the King Country Maori Girls’ School of Domestic Science and Home Nursing, but that a new school of a similar type has been established at Onehunga by the New Zealand Methodist Women’s Missionary Union, and that the Wellington Methodist Charitable and Educational Endowments ’Board has decided to erect in Taranaki a college of domestic science and hygiene, that £3OOO be granted from moneys contributed through the church’s centenary fund towards (fie erection of the college, the money to be paid over to the trust when the building contract is let; that the Home Mission Board be authorised to pay to the Women’s Missionary Union Maori Girls’ School Committee any surplus interest accruing prior to the £3OOO beeing required for the scheme; that a special appeal be made to the church and the public on behalf of the project.” With reference to the Onehunga School it was decided to grant a sum of £IOOO to the Women’s Missionary Union towards the purchase of the property there.