AN ENGLISH EX-MINISTER ON NEW ZEALAND.

Press, Volume XLIV, Issue 6786, 24 June 1887, Page 2

AN ENGLISH EX-MINISTER ON NEW ZEALAND.

[PBES3 ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.] WELLINGTOX, June 23. x>.iw~mg to an c*i-«t i~a>i a lotter writen by a member of Mr Gladstone's Ministry to Sir Geo. Grey. The writer was lately travelling in the colonies, and. visited New Zealand: — " Melbourne; 20th April.,lßß7. " I have had a good look into the industrial an<| other State schools, also' the reformatory system. I cannot compare the system out here with that at Home, as I am not sufficiently conversant with the latter, but the system pursued here seems undoubtedly jjood, short detention and reformatory, oe industrial,, schools for small numbers being two most important points with juvenile offenders. It is the individual influence that can be brought to bear on them that is productive of good. If you have a mass of children herded together in large "numbers it strikes mc that not only is the object of reform defeated, but that we are doing our best to breed up a race of criminals. I have also gone through the whole of the boardingout system there. It undoubtedly works extremely well. Whether it could be made to work in England is a matter for careful , consideration. The supervision by fcwee js the most necessary thing to feusure' that there is no ill-treatment from ©verworking,- j, \ think the women here perform their voluntary philanthropic duties better than /they do at home. The desire is no doubt as great among a" few at home, bufcthe difference between the classes is riot so "widely marked in the colonies as at home, which makes the work easier and.less. distasteful. I am very much, impressed with free education. I do hot know whether free education meets with yonr approval or not, but I am very much pleased with it, after going through a school in each colony, and making various enquiries.