SELF-RELIANCE IN NEW ZEALAND.

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 148, 25 June 1934, Page 6

SELF-RELIANCE IN NEW ZEALAND.

It has long been recognised hero in New Zealand that any citizen can wake up in the middle of the night, throw up the bedroom window, call out "Yes," and the echo come* back No.' At last from the Prime Minister down to the humblest citizen, all are of one accord. We don't care how expensive it is so Jong as it doesn't cost us anything Dr. Beeby has been invited by the Educational Research Institute to try and put us in our right place educationally. The Americans are paymg the bill. Dr. Beeby is at present in a very responsible position at Canterbury College and is doing an excellent job. The change wall weaken the staff of Canterbury College, $o I alone register that echo of "No." How our three forms of culture, namely, museums, libraries and educational institutions, have sought monetary assistance from American societies, and wo have had to put up with the- indignity of- well-groomed gentlemen arriving- In this country with first-claw return tickets, who have criticised tie from Auckland to the Bluff, and when leaving here have told us that if we are very good boys and do what they say they will hand over the "neceasarv" to g lvG us a little extra culture. If rour readers would only delv o into the American business manipulations of the last fortv years I am quite sure that they would be less'eager to accept such gifts. We have always prided ourselves that from a point of view of our position on the map and our ancestry we are independent. Why not remain so, refuse these forms of assistance, stand on our own feet, even if we have to endure criticism of our supposed non-culture? We New Zealanders now realise that we have already numerous forms of over-education. The high'echools are loaded up with young folk receiving free tuition, which, hke everything else we sret for nothing, is not wanted. They simply rest there a few ymrs, hamper the real few who seek extra, knowledge, and, finally, gn out into ordinary life, fitted for nothing. When we require a hou,<o built it is necessary to have one man to hold the nail and another to hit it. If there is any point at all in this screed, we should endeavour to retain Dr. Beebv in his present rery useful capacity. NEW ZEALANDEI!.