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.