EDUCATION OF MAORIS

Taranaki Daily News, 7 July 1931, Page 7

EDUCATION OF MAORIS

WAIKATO TRUST LANDS.

DISPOSAL OF INCOMES.

The history of Maori Church schools in the Waikato and the grants of land given in the early days in. connection with the education of Maori children at St. Stephen’s School for boys 'and the Victoria College for girls, formed the subject of an interesting statement made to the Waikato Diocesam Synod at Hamilton by the Mr. H. C. M. Norris. ....

Mr. Norris submitted a report in which .he stated that a suggestion had been made by a Royal Commission!, supported by many natives, that by a combination of the Waikato trusts, aided by Government grants, sufficient funds could be provided for the support of a school in the Waikato; but the consideration of such a proposed combination did not appear to come within the scope of the commission. •

Mr. Norris said the trusts under consideration were considered by a commrission in 1925, when the Waikato diocese was being established. A block of land at Pepepe was valued at £133, one at Hopuhopu \at £1385, and another at Puniu at £B70 —a total value of £2388. The total area concerned was 2388 acres. Tries commission stated that the income from these lands was used for the maintenance of St. Stephen’s, at which school Maori boys from the Waikato had in the past received their education. Mr. Norris expressed the opinion that it would seem right at least that the income from the Waikato grants should be applied largely for the benefit of Waikato Maoris. The Waikato Diocesan authorities should consider: (1) Whether they should claim the funds or lands included in the trusts and administer them in this diocese; (2) whether they should allow them to be administered by the trustees of St. Stephen’s School as at present; (3) whether they should ask for representation on _ the St. Stephen’s School Trust. Mr. F. Harris, Huntly, said the land at Hopuhopu had greatly increased in value n recent years. Part of it was occupied by the Defence Department as a mobilisation camp and was worth at least £lO,OOO, Mr. H. A. Swarbrick said the Puniu land had been subdivided into farms, the leases of which expired in April next. This area was now very valuable. <

Another speaker assessed the value of the Puniu land at £2l an acre.

Bishop Cherrington expressed amazement that the board of governors of St. Stephen’s School had not invited the Waikato Diocese to appoint representatives on the board before it decided to build the new school at Bombay. He certainly thought the whole position regarding the land should be thoroughly investigated with a vew to protecting the interests of the Waikato diocese and the Maori children in the diocese. Archdeacon Ilori Haiti said he had had the greatest difficulty in securing the admission of a Maori boy to the school and had received no answer to his question as to how many scholarships were available to Waikato boys. Archdeacon G. G. Bell said he had had a similar experience. The matter was referred to the chancellor and standing committee, for full investigation and report.