POLITICAL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXII, Issue 6700, 18 October 1905, Page 3

POLITICAL.

J.MR STUDHOLME AT HAMPSTEAD,

NEED FOR EDUCATIONAL REFORM.

There was an attendance of between Bixty and seventy electors at theHampstoad Schoolroom last evening, when Mt John Studholme delivered a political address. _ Mr G. W. Andrews was voted to the chair. The candidate was given au attentive hearing, with frequent marks of approval, albeit there were occasional interjectiong during the latter portion of his address.

_ Mr Studholme said that he would have liked to see more of big opponents there, so that he would have been given a chance to remove any misapprehensions. There were a ready instances of misrepresentation being used against him. He did not say his opponents were responsible, but probably aomeo? their supporters were. Hib aim had always been not to pay higher rates of wages than anybody else, and certainly not to pay lower. He did not say the oonditions at Coldßtream were better than they should be, but he did say they were better than

those obtaining on five-sixths or at least three-quarters of other farms. At last election there was no question upon which he had been subjected to more abuse or on which he had lost more votea than his , suggestions regarding the establishment of married farm labourers' homes. What he had proposed was that the Government should advance loans to farm labourers to enable them to build cottages or that the Government should secure blocks of land for the purpose — not that the farm labourers should be compelled to buy cottages near their work or that the Government should buy land in the middle of large farms. He recognised the difficult position in which the married farm labourer was placed when, poorly paid ag he was, he had to go to his work in the. country, and leave hia family iD the town. When aßked to do 60, he would be willing to do everything to assist the farm labourer.

Mr Stadholma then expounded his views on education on the lines of his speech at AUenton, stating that the system in vogue was not such as to train the children's faculties in the mott profitable directions. In comparison he instanced with approval the work done in the schools in the United States and Canada. In the matter of agricultural education it was not enough to train a few students, in agricultural colleges, but present day scientific know* ledge should be brought to every farm. In America questions of soil, seed, etc, were dealt with in a most praotical and comprehensive manner. The colleges there had .endowments and working funds of about £20,000 each, which was a striking contrast to the sum of £4,000 odd upon which the agricultural college at Lincoln was ezpeoted to cope with its mission. The speaker thought that agricultural colleges with experimental stations , should be established in each island on the lines of the American colleges. Nature study should certainly be made a feature of primary school education, and, in his opinion j school gardens were every bit as necessary to the sohoola as desks. There was a system obtaining in America of consolidating the schools, the scholars of small country schools being centralised in one place, which had been co successful that it was found possible to give a high grade of training in two 1 forms. In 1903 an American National Education Association had been instructed to prepare a report and that had only recently been presented. Its recommendations were as follows.:—(l)' That in existing one-roomed district schools a limited amount of nature study and work in the elements of agriculture and hand work for both boys and girls may be undertaken; (2)" In consolidated Eohools having at leant four teachers, one to teach nature study and manual training, and one domestic science, very much more may be attempted; (3) That the mastery of this rapidly developing body of knowledge as is "within the capabilities of elementary and secondary, school pupils furnishes a mental training: unsurpassed in extent and quality by the mastery of any other body of knowledge now regarded as essential in our common school course and requiring an equal amount of time. Mr Studholme said he was not prepared to say in what direction reform in our educational system should be made to introduce these methods; but he thought the Government might eend two of our ablest educationalists to America to make a study of the question, and if possible bring out experts to train oar teaohers and thua give a start • to the work in this country.

The candidate then spoke upon various other phases of politics. He said that if the party at present in opposition showed a reactionary tendency he would vote against them.-(Applause.) , • . - QUESTIONS.

Mr Stndholme was asked numerous questions, those of a frivolous nature giving the candidate an opportunity for the exercise o! a gift of repartee which he possesses. 'Are you in favour of tho referendum in connection with the. Bible in schools question ?' was the first question asked. ' I believe that compulsory introduction of religion into our schools would ,do more harm than good. I would not be in favour of the referendum on the Bible in schools question on a bare majority. I would be in favour of a referendum on the question on & three quarters majority.' ' la the Elective Executive a plank of the Opposition party ?' * Ifc ia not a party question at all/ was Mr Studholme's reply. ' All the members of the present Ministry are strongly opposed to it, and as a rule the members of the • Opposition who hope to become Ministers are opposed to it. I think Mr Maisey haa V«ted for it, bot do aot know whether it is a plank ia bte platform or not. I would like to see the question put to the referendum.' •Is Mr Studholme in favour of the Absolute Majority Bill?' 'No objection whatever,' was the rejoinder, ' If the Opposition did so much in framing legislation, would they repeal the Arbitration Act, Employers' Liability Act, cheap money, and other measures which the present Opposition.voted and fought tooth and nail against.' Mr Studholme said he did nofc accept the question as a statement of fact, and did not believe they bad consistently opposed them. (A voicel—" There's no question of them opposing land settlement.") "All I can say,' continued the candidate,' is that they are not my views. If the present Opposition, as I Baid before, exhibit a reactionary policy I'll vote against them, but there's no chance of their doing that.' In regard to the Harvester Trust, Mr Studholme said the difficulty was to find out what the Trust really was. The greatest curse in America was the way these Trusts had got a grip over the people. He looked upon the implement trade as perhaps the very best of local industries and able to hold its own without any tax whatever. He did not see Che necessity of doing anything in the matter till there was some urgency in the case, aa he was opposed to panic legislation. .Because of this Trust they should not impose a heavy protective duty shutting out English goods as well. He recognised that a great deal of the legislation of the present Government was good, bnfe it's administration was getting worse and worse, 'Do 'you favour an elective Upper House ?' I ■ 'I thintthe Upper House a very good | example of the clever patronage of the Premier. O£ its 4*4 members, 31 have been appointed by the present Government. Instead of being ' ended ' it is capable of being 'mended,' and I would like to see it elective.' . ' , Mr Studholme thought, in reply to a question in regard to the area of Charitable Aid districts, that the Old Men's Home should have a Board of Control m Ash burton. , 'If returned to Parliament would you legislate fco prevent present, holders of farms taking over leases of reserves as is at; present the case ?' He would not be in favour of an Aot preventing this, but thought that each ease should be considered purely on • its Tntiae matter of legalising lotteries Mr Studholme stated that he kM»d •£ lotteries, and, if sensible, the people of New Zealand would not send their money out of the country for this purpose. . „ On the question of the abolition of the totaLator? the candidate thought that gambling was inherent in most natures and would find Borne outlet, bowew much they tried to stop it. He would like to. see bookmakers abolished from raceoonrses and " tote shops " put down, He believed the totalisator was the least objectionable form of gambling we could have. He was aot in favour of its abolition. Mr Stndholme then thanked the meeting for the patient hearing given him, and thanked those who had exhibited a kindly opposition that evening. He would be glad to meet and &mmm witfc those electors

matters on which at present they were in disagreement with him.

On the motion of Mr D. Bloriarty, seconded by Mr D. C. Stock, Mr Studholme was accorded a hearty vote of thanks.

Mr John Studholme will addross the electors ab Winchinorfl on Saturday, at Seafield on Monday, and at Riverside on Tuesday.