THE MATAURA ELECTION.

Otago Witness, Issue 2308, 26 May 1898, Page 8

THE MATAURA ELECTION.

MS W; F. WARD'S VIEWS ON THE EDUCATION QUESTION. As our commeEts on Mr"* Ward's attitude 00 the education question were based on a rnuoh condensed report of his "utterances, we hare been asked to explain his- views more fully. We learn that Mr Ward supports the claims of Catholics not because fehey teach religion ia their schools, but because they are doing an amount of State work which, if their schools were closed, the State would &t once have to find teachers aDd schoolroom for. Consequently, in justice, Mr Ward thiaks, they are entitled to a sbare in the capitation allowance when their schools are up to the inspector's standard. , Bub ac the majority rule— and the majority of electors are not in favour of such grant being allowed— there is no possible benefifa to be gained in raising this claim. As regards the present 6ys£em of free- secular and oom« pulsory education, Mr Ward would on no account vote for an alteration without a pkbiecite of the people being firsfc taken to ascertain that they desired a change. But in view • of the many youthful offenders of late couvicted of crimes, as the Ten Commandments belong to the different forms of religion, he thinks that the introduction of a grade of reading books bused on the virtues inculcated by the Comtnaridmeats, such as lessons on the necessity of truthfulness, honesty, and morality-,, and on those duties we owe to one' anc*i>her in social and commercial life, without any reference to any particular religion, would, if carried oufe, copa to a great extent with this daily increasing cvil — tha want o£ moral restraint.

At Mr R. M'Nafa's meeting at Wyndham, a vota cf thanks and confidence in Mr JVl'Nab having been proposed and seconded, Mr Beauge moved, ad sCa amendment, a vote of thanks to Mr'M'Nab, but that the meeting has no confidence in the Government which he is supporting. The amendment was carried by a large majority.-and Mr M'Nab refcurne'd thanks' and proposed the uaual compliment to the'ehafr. The meeting broke up with three cheers for Me Ward. While Mr Ward, the Opposition candidate, was' being '•hfeckled" at Wyndbam on the tubject of defence, Mr Ayson (a Government supporter) asked who would pay the wages o£ lads who were allowed by their employers' to get away to attend drill. Mr Ward promptly replied that the present Government was only too-glad to pay anybody who did Bofc want to work.

Four charges of cruelty to animals were' brought against Henry Box, a coschdriver, at Christchurch on the 17th. Three were for arirr ing horses, at different dates, in' his drag t$ Feadalton while they vrere*not in a fib state £9 bs worked, end tbe other for working a horae with a galled shoulder. He was convicted and fined £10, with costs (£5 9^), on one of the former charges, the other two being adjourned till May 31. Tha latter charge was dismusecf, on the grcund th*t Box was not the pro« prietor.