THE MAORI RACE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 19983, 28 October 1927, Page 6

THE MAORI RACE

• A NOBLE HERITAGE THE WHITE MAN’S DEBT. “I want you, above everything, to have w'hat we call £ride of race,” said his Excellency the Governor-General, Sir Charles Fcrgusson, addressing the pupils of the Maori Girls’ College at the laying of the foundation stone at Marton yesterday. “We want you,” he said, “to grow up in pride and knowledge of the great history of the noble race from which you have sprung. We want you to preserve the wonderful characteristics of courage, chivalry, dignity and honesty, and ail the vitures that go to make up a great race. Keep up your arts and handicrafts, and learn your legends and folklore, and be proud of it.” His Excellency could not imagine a more beautiful site for the college. Facing them were the mountains which were bound up with the history of the 'race, and this should be an inspiration to them. The school should fit them for life in their homes, teach them hygiene domestic science, and infant welfare, and it was prayed that the wisdom that had been shown in the past would be shown in the future, as it was only by wisdom, understanding and knowledge, that the school could succeed. In every country the Presbyterian Church had been fanned for its missionary work, and by doing this work they were doing something to repay the nation’s debt to the great native race who were in possession of the country before they

“It is only by such institutions as this that we can repay our debt,” said his Excellency, as he appealed to the girls to be proud of the school and to never let anything they might do mar the reputation of the institution.