(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.