HOT PETONE TOPIC.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1185, 21 July 1911, Page 6

HOT PETONE TOPIC.

« THE RURAL COURSE. A JiATHLK MIXKD MELTING. The much-talked of introduction of the rural course in the Petone District HiKh Sehaol was further dealt with at a public meeting convened by the. Mayor (.Mr. .1. W. M'J-lwan) at St. Augustine's Hall. I'elone, last night. There wore out 100 householders (including ladies) present. The .Mayor called upon the Uev. A. J. Seamer lo open proceedings and move a resolution it he so desired. Mr. Seamer then moved: "That, this meeting earnestly protests against the introduction of the rural course in our District High School and requests the committee and Kduealion Board not to interfere with the present course which has produced successful'results and given 'latisfactioh to parents and children." In speaking to his motion Mr. Seamer said that tho best opportunities should lie given the children of the district for the course which they wish to pursue and the Civil Service was a big. factor in Petone." When the question was looked into it would be found that the present course was tar more suitable for Civil Service and matriculation purposes than a rural course. The rural course, if es-tablished,-would embrace 13 compulsory subjects, which would no doubt' qualify the successful candidate as a "Jack of all trades," but would not make children really proficient in any particular subject. Under the proposed course there would be only six hours per week available, for preparation for matriculation. On tho other hand the present course allowed 18 hours odd for direct preparalion for the matriciilitioii and Civil Service examinations, in the face of this they were told that the rural course would not interfere with study for these two examinations. The Rev. A. Thomson seconded the mo-

tion and remarked that the rural course had been introduced in tho Wnirarapa, ami that might be all right' but, in I'etone, it would mean the closing of their secondary . school. Educational experts were not in favour of it, and if it were good in I'etone, it should also be introduced in Wellington. At present the way was open to the university through their school, and were they going to close it? Mr. Silverwood moved as an amendment: "That this meeting of householders commend the action of the District High School Committee in introducing the science of a rural course for I'etone." In speaking to the amendment, Mr. D. M'Kenzic (chairman of the District High School) explained that the I'etone Council had offered land for the committee's use. Mr. Piper: "The Town Clerk said that— not the council." (Hear, hear.) Mr.- Silverwood: "I rise to a point of order. Wo gave the other side a hearing; now let thein bo men and give us a hearing." (Loud applause and mild uproar.) The chairman then asked the speaker to keep to tho point. Proceeding, Mr. M'Kenzic remarked that, some people had asserted that the rural course meant farewell to their district High School. This was absurd. "Wo camo from the land," he continued, "and must get back to .it." The best pastime for boys and girls (he added) was an elementary agricultural training. Other schools could get better results than them under the rural course. The committee was really doing its best to uplift the boys and girls. Farming could never be overdone. The Labour Department were now harassed by men continually applying for work, and" their cry was "Go on the land." Voices: "Oh, eh,, oh! What rot." Mr. M'Kenzic continuing, said tho. in-

spectors were in favour of the course, and ho would resign from the committee if anyone could prove that they were not. The chairman: "Why go into this? Stick to dho point." Proceeding. Mr. M'Kenzie asked if he had. the right to reply. Voices:'"No, no." Tho Rev. Seamer asked for the chairman's ruling. The chairman said that Mr. M'Kenzie could not reply as he had not moved the motion.

Mr. M'Kenzie: All right. I have lost he point, but, it does not matter. (Laugh-

Air. r,. C.' I'reoth remarked that, the 'j headmaster ■of the Groytown School did i not think that the course was a wise one. \ What had to be studied at I'etono was t the education of the working man's sons \ and daughters, who nowadays had to get c out and support the family. If fads f were taken into consideration, the scheme | would be of no use at all. At present f there was an excellent system, and why t should they change it? It was all'nonsense to quote England and America, as 1 the conditions in these countries were \ quite different. There were two courses ] at for tradesmen and one j for the university career.. . They should ' not change them. '(Applause.) ] Air. Aledhurst remarked that he had ( seen a practical demonstration of tho ( work done at the Alasterton School, and ] had never seen better anywhere. He j hoped the amendment would be carried. - Air. Lundon said that, with training | .such as proposed, it would be a good < thing for Petone if all the land, was , utilised in the Valley. Butter would , not now be Is. 6d. per lb. (Laughter and ; cheers.) Headmasters were most impracticable, and, in fact,.tho whole system of our education was wrong. (Uproar.) Air. Seamcr rose to a point, of order. ' (More uproar and cries of "Sit down!" "Sit down!") ■ ■•- Proceeding, Mr. Lundon said that ; everyone who had land should have a : garden, and this was the way to get , them. Mr. Piper asked to be allowed to make a personal explanation, but he was ruled out of order amidst an uproar. The speaker managed to indicate that he was in favour of the motion. After. several others had spoken, the chairman called on Mr. .Seamer'to reply. Air. Seamer stated that he was disappointed that he had nothing to answer. If the rural course were established the sacrifice of cutting out other subjects would be too great. He hoped the meeting would carry the motion. Air. Lundon, at this stage, attempted to make an explanation, but was ruled out of order by the chairman. The meeting received the ruling With so noisy a demonstration that eventually the chairman allowed Air. Lundon to speak. The latter explained that he had "nothing against the teachers." Tie was proceeding to make some further remarks when he "was again pulled up bv the chairman, Air. Be'dingfield declared that Air. Lundon was only adding insult to injury. (Uproar.) He (the ' speaker) challenged Mr. Lundon to "go through any ten subjects he liked." (Cheers and uproar.)

The amendment was then put, and. upon a show of hands, it was declared carried by 41 votes to 29. Put as a substantive motion, it was carried, on a division, by 3S votes to .12. Subsequently, Mr. Piper attempted to move a motion, but his voice was drowned in a clamour of yells, groans and hoots, and the meeting broke up.