PUBLIC MEETING.

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume I, Issue 45, 5 February 1873, Page 3

PUBLIC MEETING.

THE NEW EDUCATION ACT.

A public meeting, convened by E. M. Edgcumbe, Esq., J.P., was held in Eraser’s store on Thursday e.vening last, for the purpose of discussing the merits and demerits of the new Provincial Education Act. Taere was a very large and respectable attendance, and amongst those present we noticed Major Roberts, H. M , Captain Tovcy, J.P., Captain i> orris, Captain Sheet, Captain Tanks, ; nptain Eilis, Captain Crape, Captain Austen, Captain Faulkner, Captain Fullerton, Messrs. Hill, Lea, R. ed, Haggerty, Rose, Maxwell, Grey, Rennet, McDonald. Remington, Chadwick, Wrigley, Booth, Sims, J. Young, Kirk (2), Burrows, Morrison, Catnpney, S. Young, Lemon, Harvey, Goldsmith, Co >k, Tonks, Edgcumba, Sanders, Somerville, Castaing, Swan, McCarthy, Smith, Lui.don, Conway, Roller, Bodell, Fell, Naden, Connor, Downey, Ball, Howard, Asher, Samuels, Grey, Fnulkn r, Kennedy, Crabb, Farreii, Piercy, King, Cleal, Penny, Lake, Dixon, and other gentlemen who.-e names we did not know. On the motion of Mr George, seconded by Mr Hill, Mr Edgcumba tr»» appointed to the chair.

Having first read a letter of apology from Mr i 1 ir«r, ,1.1’., for being absent (through indisposition). The Chairman said ho had called the meeting for the purpo-e of discussing the merits of the new .Education Act. Before making any comments on it, he must candidly toll those present that he was not an opponent of the -U't as an Act, but ho strongly objected to certain clauses, to which it was his intention briefly to allude. Ha would draw their attention to clause 5. (Clause read.) Now, the very tact of having the Superintendent, his Executive, and the Speaker of the Provincial Council, members to be elected by the Provincial Council, and three members to be nominated bv the Chief Justice, converted the Education Board into a political body. It would bo at once perceived that, the members are all nominees, more or less. Politics and education are two distinct things, and should be kept apart ; the one should in no way be allowed to clash with the other. (Hear, hear.) The next clauses ha wished to draw attention to were clauses If? and 17. (Clauses read.) They referred to the mode of election of the local school committee, which, bv the way. would simply be puppets in the baud's of the Board. By t hese clauses power was given to a householder to give the whole of his live votes to one candid --.to. He thought this should be altered. Such u method of electing never could represent public; opinion—(applause). It was an incentive to cliquism, and all, he thought, would agree with him in condemning cliquism as the bane of any community—(hear, hear). The next clauses objectionable to the speaker’s mind were clauses 27 and 28 —(clauses read). These two clauses referred to the mode of taxation. He was of opinion that the mode of taxation was unjust to the mass of the people. Say, for example, that Mr Smith has a big house of 12 or 15 rooms, and ia of independent means. The tax collector goes to him and demands this £ I educational tax. Mr Smith gsves it : what is a pound to him, with his big house and independent means ? The tax collector goes next, we’ll say, to a man living in a two-roomed cottage, working hard during the week for the support of bis wife and family, and demands exactly the same amount of money from him as li© received from Mr Smith—this man, with hia two-roomed cottage, being as much a householder in the eyes of this very wise Educational Board as Mr Smith is, wish his large mansion. This was unfair to the working man. It money for educational purposes was wanting, let the rich householder pay out of his abundance. Pass an income tax —rate in proportion to the yearly rental of the house occupied. Bet those who had made their money by the hard work of the working men help the men to educate their children. This was the case in England. Being in the chair, lie would not detain the meeting longer with any remark-, a- no doubt many gentlemen present desired U> i ;cress their views on this great question. L ■ -mould not have spoken publicly on this matter but that, being a candidate for the honour of representing this rising district in the next Provincial Council, he thought it his duty to make his fellow settlers acquainted with his ideas on the educational question—(hear, hear.) In conclusion, he trusted many of those present would also ventilate their views, as in the multitude of counsellors there is wisdom—(applause). Mr £ rederick George, in an eloquent and [ sensible speech, agreed in a great measure with the remarks made by the Chairman ; and objected to clauses 5, 18, 17, and 37, bearing on the formation of Educational Boards, the election of committees, and too mode of taxation. Politic© should always be kept aloof from education. The Fruvmci i! Council had, with t heir usual arrogance, endeavoured to combine the two, and be had seen the evil arising from such a combination in other countries. The Council had been probably enticed to pass the new Education Act for the sake of the pickings, and he regretted to find “our member*’ was oue of the party. The time had come when we wanted a change in the Provincial Government—a better Council than that at present existing or none at all. The School Committee, according to the Act, would only be puppets in the hands of the Government, and it would bo impossible to obtain public opinion on the basis of election laid down. The rating was bad. Nothing was contained in the Act specifying the length or date of occupancy. Why, a man might live in half a dozen houses during twelve months. Would he have to pay for all ? And, again, a householder might remove his furniture for the nonce, and say he didn’t live any where at all! (Laughter and applause.) The mode of rating was utterly unfair. The rich man in his luxurious mansion, and the poor man in his humble raupo whare bad to pay the same, while another class, who lived on the fat of the land at hotels, escaped altogether. He, however, at the same time, cordially agreed with compulsory education. Food for the mind was as necessary as food for the body. The man who neglected the education of his children was not worthy of the name of man, and should be compelled by law to do so. lie believed, however, in secular education, entirely free from all denominational bias. The speaker then proposed, “That in the ouinion of this meeting the effect of clauses 5, If?, 17, and 37 would, in practice, neutralise the otect of the Bid.” Mr Roger Hill seconded the resolution, which was carried unanimously. Captain Skeet then came forward, and said he had intended seconding the first resolution. He fully agreed with what had fallen from the previous speakers relative to the clauses in question. The construction of the School Board was too political : it actually threw all the power into the hands of the Superintendent and Provincial Council. The London School Board >■ ~ cu e i;>-; so ought tne Auckland School Board in be. As to the clause allowing a householder to plump five votes for any candidate, it would tend to outvote the honest voters, who wished conscientiously to return five eligible men, and would open the door lor party favour. With regard to the household tax, he considered it unfair. Direct taxation of any kind was very objectionable, and the necessity fo u, oven for such a laudable object as educe’ . could never have arisen if the early prov:; dslafors had had foresight enough to bavt ; : . : id : - , ... t,.ny might have done, extensive land i ‘ national purposes, la that case, the rents aecr would by this time have provided sufficient funds. If, however.

no ether mode existed of supplying • iy but, direct taxation, that taxation shout* hare Peon made more fair and in accordance with one's means. One example would prove the unfairmms. Persons in business having two establishment#, oven supposing their business premises were of considerable value, if not in any way used as a dwelling house, paid no more than the worn out old man, who only perhaps inhabited a hovel. The option of bringing the compulsory clauses into operation in any district rested with the householders. He believed in compulsory ©due®* tion, and did not mind paying for it. Education was cheaper than keeping criminals, and the more education or civilisation advanced the more was criminality reduced. But if this education could not bo supported,out, of the regular income, get the necessary funds, if not indirectly, at least by a fair tax. The chairman stated the Act had received the sanction oi the Governor and was law, but that was no reason why it should not ba repealed. Great difficulty and expense would arise in collecting the tax, being, as it was, so unpopular. He would propose that a metnorirl be got up to the proper authorities, objecting to the clauses under discussion. Mr V\ T . H. Bonnet would remind the meeting, before committing themselves to any rash resolutiou, that if the education rate was not collected the education of the children in the district (the importance of which it was unnecessary to dwell upon) would also bo neglected. He would oppose the motion. Mr R. McDonald seconded the proposition. Mr George animadverted iu strong language on the action taken by some newspapers in the matter, and particularly condemned the Auckland Evening Star. Captain Norris had a strong antipathy to the orthodox tax-gatherer. The method of rating was utterly bad. M . H. JBennet questioned if there was & man in Tauranga that could not alibrd to pay the tax ; and oven if there was, the committee had power to exempt such a person from payment. Captain Tovey spoke of other provinces in New Zealand having made provision, bv education reserves in the early days, for the education of the rising generation. Unfortunately Auckland had not, hence the necessity far this tax. Everyone would agree with him that Education must bo provided, and it must also, it would appear, be paid for. The General Go vernment had attempted last session to pass a general law for compulsory education, but owing to the groat party tight had failed to carry it out. Doubtless it would, however, bo accomplished early next session, and then become tho law of the colony. Was it advisable, therefore, to refuse to pay the tax for a short time, have our children neglected, and ultimately be compelled to do so by tho General Government. On first sight it might appear to bo unjust, but it must bo remembered that the Provincial Council had only tho power of direct taxation. Tho speaker then dwelt upon the fact that formerly school foes were Is per week for each child, and the advantages accruing from tho new ordinance, whereby a whole family (no matter what the number) would bo educated for £2. Taken in its entirety, he behoved in the Act, and trusted tho people of Tauranga would consider well upon the matter before rejecting it. Further discussion then ensued, Tho Chairman said ho was in a position to state that tho Governor had given hia consent to tha Act, and it was therefore an established law. Tho motion was curried. Mr Lewis Samuel- thought the tax most unjust, dbnoxious, and imf nr. lie would willingly give £5 at any time in the cause of national education, but ho looked upon this rate as simply oppression to the masses, ami as such ho would do all iu hia power against it—(applause), Mr Bonnet dtd not believe in the memorial in any shape or form. Tho following gentlemen wore then appointed to act on a Committee for tho purpose of drawing up tho petition and obtaining signatures thereto : —Captain Skeet, Messrs ICdgcumbo, George, Samuels, Remington, and Downey. Mr Samuels proposed, and Mr Frederick George seconded, a vote of thanks to tho Chairman for convening the meeting, the able manner in which ho had fulfilled bis duties as Chairman, and tho interest generally ho had taken in tho matter. Mr Edgcurnbe here retired from, and Captain Skeet was voted to, the chair, and tho vote of thanks was enthusiastically and unanimously carried. Tho Chairman having suitably replied, tha meeting adjourned.