Fostering Interest in Education

An important piece of the club's policy last year arose from the realisation that there were too few Maoris attending university. It is an undeniable and sad fact that the Maori birthrate has increased but not his progress in education. If proportions to the pakeha population mean anything, there should be something like seven hundred Maori undergraduates at the various centres instead of the ridiculously low figure of about one hundred and fifty.

In order to stimulate the Maori elders' interest in the university, and to familiarise them with student life, conducted tours of the university were arranged. Included also in the visits was a large group of secondary school children. Among the elders came people representing Maori Leagues from as far afield as Bulls and Feilding.