THE LINKWATER SCHOOL.

MR McGALLUM INDIGNANT.

[»RCM OUR CORRESPONDENT. J WELLINGTON, Sept. 20. There was a lively interlude in the House on Tuesday afternoon, when the report on Technical Education was laid before the House. Mr R. McCallum rose and stated in a very definite manner that technical education as it was taught in the country districts was simply a farce, and a waste of money. Until the Department standardised teaching, and insisted on competent teachers, it would continue to waste money. However, he looked upon technical instruction as one of the most essential parts of national education. The schools at Auckland, Wellington, Wanganui, and other places had been doing most valuable work for many years. Mr McCallum agreed with those who regarded technical education as an essential industry. He explained that he had risen mainly because he might not be present when the Education Estimates were being considered. He had a very serious complaint to make against the Education Department, and it had reference to what was practically a conflict between the Lands Department and the Education Department. He referred t.) the cutting down of a site in his district known as Linkwater. The School Committee there reclaimed an urea of some Bor 9 acres. Some months ago the Lands Department found that this land had not been properly gazetted, but it was quite willing' to complete the gazetting m favor "of the Education Department nnd the School Committee. Hie Education Department, however, absolutely refused to accept it, and blocked the Lands Department. His district had therefore been cruelly penalised. The sympathies ot the Lands Department were with the Committee, and yet they had the .spectacle of the Education Departi ment refusing to assist a country j school district. ! Ho said plainly that notwithstnmj- ■ incr the dosiic of the ?.larlborougn [ Limd Board, the Wellington .foflucsition Board (to which Marlborougn now belonged), and the Linkwater i School Committee, the Minister, and > hi* Department wovo acting against I the best interests of technical edueaI tion so far as experimenting on a ! «mall piece of farming land could be • ( ~rried out. Besides that, the use = «fa suitably sized glebe on which the i master could run a cow and horse, nlwivs proved an inducement in a remote country district, and. assisted in becuring a better class of teacher.