EDUCATION POLICY.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 54, Issue 191, 26 May 1934, Page 8

EDUCATION POLICY.

CRITICISM BY MR ATMORE.

THE ENTERING AGE. (Per Press Association). STRATFORD, May 25. Sweeping criticism of the Government’s education policy was expressed by Mr H. Atmore, M.P. for Nelson, last night, when addressing a large audience on the economic and monetary position of New Zealand. The country, lie said, was tlie richest in the world in the production of national wealth, and yet children were debarred from entering school for over a yeai after reaching the suitable age. “This is not because of any desire to help the child by having it home with its mother for another year, but simply to enable economies to be effected by dismissing teachers,” said Mr Atmore. “Well-to-do people aie able to send children to private schools at five, enabling them to get a start of a year on workers children. Mi Masters would not dare to stand on a public platform and defend his P°h c 5 of placing an imposition on the fine children of this for which there is no justification. Mr Atmore paid a tribute „to the Roman Catholic community ox New Zealand, who, managed to find the money, for the establishment of schools Ihrnmdiout the, Dominion. Sucti schools had not raised the entrance age. The Government did not lealise that education was less expensive tlia ignorance. Money could be found fo war. It cost £SOOO to kill each man who died in tlie Great War, and yet the Government was unaHle to p l ovide £l2 10s to educate each child in a AtoSfspol™ far' nearly fbm hcaring and He C advocated the adoption as follows: “Since the present mone farv svstein is obsolete and a hindrance to tlie efficient production and distn hutioii of goods, the Government should bring in the necessary econom reforms to enable the people of this Dominion to enjoy the, benefits. . which their present pioductne Cc p city entitles them.