The Evening Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News, Morning News, and Echo. WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 1900. THE STOKE SCHOOL SCANDAL.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXI, Issue 211, 5 September 1900, Page 4

The Evening Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News, Morning News, and Echo.

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 1900. THE STOKE SCHOOL SCANDAL.

For the oausß that laoks assistance, For the won? that needs resistance, For th 6 futuro ia tie difit&nco, And tba c;cd that \ro can do.

The Government may find in this painful subject one of the most serK ous and difficult questions of the present session. Public feeling is growing deeper and stronger in favour of a very firm handling of it. The passionate utterances already heard in the House of Representatives and the determined spirit of the public meeting of the citizens of Nelson held last night are indications of a larger national interest yet to be expressed. The Premier and Speaker of the House, upheld by the Leader of the Opposition were without doubt right in deprecating at the present stage the use of strong condemnatory language. The corrected report of the evidence should be calmly studied, and a judicial frame of mind preserved, if possible, by the representatives of the people. The temptations, indeed, are great to approach the subject under keen feelings of disgust The reports of the inquiry could not fail to occasion these. The condition of this denominational industrial school, upheld by Government aid, has been simply shocking. The religious character of its superintendent and teachers deepens the feeling into something like titter horror for the carelessness and cruelty pervading the whole institution. 'We cannot marvel at the citizens of Nelson expressing great dissatisfaction with the report of the Commission, and the proposed method of dealing with it. The mystery of the "marvellous health of the boys may be explained in some measure by the fine climate of Nelson; but evidently the people of Nelson are not inclined to be soothed in this way. They boldly affirm the conclusion" of the report is • incompatible with the evidence. They cannot believe that ill-fed, badlyclothed, dirty, much-confined, and cruelly beaten children can enjoy perfect health even in the fresh air and fine sunshine of their fair surroundings. The proposed reforms, too, are totally inadequate. Only the most drastic measures can reform this institution. It must be no longer denominational. If it exists still, it must be root and x branch a Gov.ernmentinstitution. The citizens of Nelson are manifestly progressive. They see clearly the consequences of their demand. All State aid to de- ; nominational charity schools must cease. The State must undertake the education of the poor and orphan children, and the reformation of the lawless. If churches or societies undertake this work, they must do so voluntarily, without State grants, and yet, of course, under a much more careful State.oversight than in the past. Thus, a new Government ; and national policy is required by the people of Nelson. Protestant as well as Papal churches, in works of charity, must be entirely separated from Government aid. This position may be too advanced for many. The old usage and want of method may not be easily pushed aside. Doles to religious sects are pleasing and useful sometimes to party government. They have been an utter failure in Nelson, and not, perhaps, very successful anywhere, unless under very favouring conditions. The bringing together of a crowd of poor children in pxiblic institutions has something dismal, depressing, and over-restrictive for youthful vitality; and the crowding together of lawless and vicious youths'notde- ;- sirable for reformatory ends. Without doubt the boarding-out method tinder careful selection and supervisionj in favour with the .Government, is superior to the' charity school arid reformatory system. A healthier style, of life, even a finer style of religion, may be secured outside, of public,, institutions than within their prison-like walls.

' The Stoke Sqhool scandal, however troublesome and painful to all parties, may be of use in leading the nation to better methods of dealing with her poor and lawless children.