A Necessary Subject.

In my opinion the time has come for the inclusion of Maori in the pass subjects necessary for a New Zealand University degree in Arts. At present it is an optional subject, and as we know, little or no interest is given to merely optional subjects. A vast amount of the work devoted to French, for example, could be diverted to Maori. It is likely to be of more use and interest to a New Zealander than any other language except English. Latin is indispensable to a student who would understand the origin of his own language; but French I would make a purely optional subject. Maori emphatically, should be taught in the secondary schools. It has its literary culture equally with French.

As for the Governor-General's reference to the want of knowledge of the Maori tongue amongst public men in New Zealand, I need not discuss that here. Sufficient to say that I would like to see our public men, and especially the young “coming-on” men, take the great Englishman's sage counsel to heart.