THE EDUCATION BILL.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXIV, Issue 3432, 16 July 1868, Page 3

THE EDUCATION BILL.

A public meeting of the ratepayers of the highway district of Otahuhu was held last evening at 7 o'clock, in the Public Hall, Otahuhu, to consider the advisability of bringing the Education Act into operation in that district. The attendance was small, comprising not more than three or four members of the Highway Board; the meeting consisting for the most part of the humbler class of settlers. Mr. O. A. Bowden was called to the chair. The Chairman, after alluding to the unavoidable absence of Mr. Luke at the Thames, read the advertisement convening the meeting. He said he was not very conversant with the matter under disoussion, and no doubt there were many gentlemen present better qualified to give their views upon it than he was. Mr. Gordon said he had to convey to the meeting Mr. Luke's apology for his absence. He wished it to bo known that he w»a called away to the Thames last Monday morning, and was therefore precluded from being present. It was out of no disrespect to the meeting that he had not attended it. The Rev. P. Gould said it would, perhaps, be better for the Secretary to 1 read the Education Bill, which, being short, would not occupy much time. Mr. Gordon then read the Act. He said that was the Act the meeting had been called upon to consider as to whether it was advisable to bring it into operation in that district. He might state the reason why the board had called this meeting. A good many other boards throughout the province had held similar meetings in order to give the ratepayers the opportunity of saying whether they would consent to rate themselves for educational purposes or not. The board of this district thought it would be best to take the present step rather than that there should be no meeting, and that the people should nob have the opportunity of themselves deciding whether or not the Education Act should be brought into operation. It nowremained for the meeting to Bay what course they would adopt under the Act. The rate would be collected in the same manner as road rates were. The speaker went on to explain the practical mode of "bringing the Act into operation. Mr. Vlumlby said be would be prepared to put down £5 for the education of the children, without reference to any denominational considerations. Several members of the meeting here stated most emphatically that they would object to paying any rates for educational purposes. The Rev. F. Gould said it would considerably shorten the proceedings of the meeting, and make it more interesting, if it could be ascertained whether, in the event of its being shown that the Act was not oulya workable, but advisable, Act, the majority of persons present would consent to be rated, for if they refused to be rated without reference to the question whether the Aot was workable or advisable, there was no use proceeding any further with the matter, fn order to test the opinion of the meeting, he would move, "That, in the opinion of this meeting, it would be advisable to levy a rate for educational purposes, provided it could be clearly shown that the provisions of the Act are workable." Mr. G. Gallagher : I object to pay rates on any ■ocounfc. Mr. McNultt said he objected to school ratea under any consideration. He would sooner give £5 voluntarily than he would be assessed for£l, because no one knew where these assessments would end. Mr. A. Millbbew said he would not pay oae farthing towards a rate for educational purposes. Several other members spoke to the same effect. Mr. Gokdon said that it appeared to him that the majority of the meeting had come there with a foregone conclusion. (A voice: "^ou are right. We won't pay the tax on any account." Another voice : " The poll-tax is quite enough.") He thought it wat due to the Government, who had framed this measure, that they should say why they did not approve of a rate being levied. There could be no question — whatever that education must be promoted; whether it was by rate in the manner pointed out by this Act was a question for them to determine. A large number of the people of this district were unable to pay for the education of their children, and therefore it would become the daty of those who we*e able to make provision for the education of those children. It was the imperative duty of every man to provide education for the rising generation. Be did not think it was right that a man should aay, that, because he was able to provide education for his own children, it was not his dnty to help those who were not so well off. That was a dog-in-the manger principle. He did not altogether agree with the Act himself, and he had some resolutions to put to the meeting, if the one before it wa« passed. He made these remarks merely with the intention of bringing the true position of affairs before them. After some further remarks, the chairman put the motion to the meeting, with the following rerolt :-: Ayes, 5 j Noes, 11. „.«•".