(By M. R. Herbert)

With regard to the last editorial of "Salient" I should like to question the present value of the Maori Fund.

The foundation at present aims principally to finance Post Primary and University Education of academically fit Maori children. The law of this country stipulates that it is compulsory to remain at school until the age of 15. For a person of average intelligence this means until approximately the end of the 4th or 5th forms. If then a child, Maori or European turns 15 while still at primary school it is reasonable to assume that he is academically unfit for higher education.

However assume for the time beingth that the Maori child enters the secondary school at the age of 12 or 13. In this case he either has two or three years' secondary education, and if he then passes through the fourth form with a good average marks or obtains school "C," or fails it by not too many marks, it is fair to assume that he is fit for further education, which he will not get if he leaves. Why then do so many leave at the age of 15. I think there are three main reasons.

The first is that many have to leave to go out to work in order to help to support the rest of a large family.

In some cases then, to offer the child finance under these circumstances, is not really helping him but penalising his family.

The second reason is just not enough money to keep him there any longer merely because his family have another child about to enter the secondary school.

The third reason applies equally to European and Maori children, they are just plain apathetic to further education beyond the age of 15.

A preventative answer to the first reason is not easy. It may require financial assistance not only to the individual but also to his family. The answer to the second situation however, is the fund. But how many Maori children under these circumstances will the fund be likely to help?

Remember, a big percentage leaves at the age of 15 either at primary school or in the third to fifth forms. A small percentage can continue because they can afford to, and a big number leave to help their family. This certainly does not leave many in the category that the fund will help, and although there are not statistics to prove this, I would say that they would be as low as one in 20. The number then at present in the post-primary school who will benefit from this is very small.

In the University

And what is the position in the Maori University education field? The fund also hopes to finance the University education of academically fit Maori students.

There are very few families, European or Maori which can afford (or if they can afford) have children academically fit whose university education they will pay for. Most students are paying their own way with bursaries and working in the long vacation. Others have scholarships or studentships. Yet others, go part-time.

Academically-inclined Maoris are already encouraged sufficently if they want higher education. Ordinary government bursaries are available equally to Maoris.

Indeed in many cases there are extra bursaries already available to Maoris.

It would be superfluous for the foundation to spend money on those already capable of helping themselves. Helping those who can help themselves does not solve the problem of Maori education. Neither will helping one in twenty in the post primary schools solve the problem. This will possibly only help in creating an elite class within the Maori group. If that is all the problem is, then it applies equally to Europeans, and one might as well ask why we do not have a European Education Foundation.

The heart of the problem lies deeper than this. Basically, the problem is to get more to the stage where they can help themselves.

Balance the Ratio

The ratio of Maoris to Europeans in this country is 12 Europeans to one Maori. Yet in our Secondary Schools and Universities it is certain that not one out of twelve pupils is a Maori.

Averaging out the figures we could perhaps find one in 20 Maoris at secondary scool, and possibly one in 75 at University.

The only reason for this is that not enough are coming from our Post Primary Schools, in addition to the fact that they do not find it economically attractive.

And they are not in our Post Primary schools because most never get past Primary School or else leave the moment they turn fifteen. An attempt should be made to get more to Secondary School, from Primary at the age of 12 to 13, with a reasonable standard of edcuation.

It is not the duty of the foundation to do this. These children are being educated in government schools. It is therefore the duty of the government.

Only when the government has fulfilled its responsibility, which it is obviously neglecting at present; will the foundation be able to serve its proper function.

It cannot hope to attack the problem at its roots. At present it can only apply palliative at the top, but until the basic roots of the problem are solved the whole situation of Maori education cannot be altered but merely aggravated.

Wake up the Education Department!