OUR COUNTRY CHILDREN.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 159, 7 July 1926, Page 6

OUR COUNTRY CHILDREN.

WELL LOOKED AFTER. GOOD EDUCATION SYSTEM. New Zealand and Australia look aftef the education of their country children in a way that Mr. J. Caughley, Director of Education, described to-day as far superior to other countries that had sectional control. Mr. Caughley was welcomed by the Auckland Education Board at its meeting this morning, and took the opportunity of emphasising certain features that he regarded as particularly good. In a reference to Canada he said: "The country districts there are far worse off t)han those of New Zealand." Mr. T. U. Wells: Quite true. '"The best some of the older countries have is a long way better than our best," continued Mr. Caughley, "but that is owing sometimes to concentration on particular areas and sometimes owing to the large numbers of the population* but their worst is infinitely lower than our worst."' As a general impression, Mr. Caugliley said that our educational system wa3 one that had a good general foundation. Xew Zealand was a young country and ought to go cannily; there was a good, high. general, broad average in our education. The Dominion had not nearly the problems that some Australian States had in the matters that created most difficulties; and Mr. Caughley hoped that, as the population became greater, the Education Department would be able to undertake some of the finer things that appeared desirable.

"Without any conceit we may claim that we have good foundations," concluded Mr. Caughley. "There is very little to retrace and all our projects are leading in the right direction. The provision that the Government makes is not excess-ive, but it is generous."

'"I hope you will attend the next Imperial conference o:i education," observed Mr. A. Burns (chairman).