THE PENSIONER VILLAGES AND EDUCATION.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXVI, Issue 3953, 23 April 1870, Page 4

THE PENSIONER VILLAGES AND EDUCATION.

It will be remembered that meetings were recently held at Howick and Pamnure, on the education question ; aud that certain applications have been mado to the Central Boar 1 of Education for assistance in a form not consistent with the Education Act. The Board applied to the Superintendent to proenre letnins from the Pensioner villages, as to the numbei of ' ' children whose parents may be deemed unable to pay the ordinary rate of school fees." The Superintendent has caused, through Mr. Kaughton, inquiries to be made by the police ; and the officers sought mforaiation from, various ministers of religion, and other gentlemen, before beginning personal inquiries from house to house. The returns were submitted to the Board at its meeting yesterday. They show the following numbers of children as of parents claiming to come within the description given :—: —

Tn the report as to Otahuhu, the officer states that lie called at every poor-looking house in tho village : and the almost uni- j versal answer was, " We arc able to educate our children, and require no aid ! " As to Panmuro, it is reported that some parents i ' ' told me that by paying for two or three of their children they would actually be depriving themselves of the common necessarie-s of life." The officer adds, " I attribute such an expression to tho general want of employment, as the attached return will show, and more especially in the village of Panmuro." We subjoin an abstract of the returns. The money per day, as stated, represents the amount of pensions ; then follows the reason given, in each case, for inability to pay school fees ; and so much as is bracketed , stands under the head of " Remarks," by tha reporting officers :: — • Otahuhu. — 1. Man, labourer ; 9d. a-day; two boys ; he is blindand unable to work. — 2. Man, Is, a-day ; old and infirm, and unable to work much. — 3. A woman, farm labourer, one girl ; widow, and not in constant employment. [She is rent-free, and has a cow aud two sons at work aiding.] — 4. Woman, one boy ; deserted by her husband for ten years. — 5. Man ; 6d. a-day ; one boy and one girl ; old and lame, and has no means. — 6, Man ; three boys and four girls ; not in constant work, but at present earning ss. a-day, and his son 4s. per day. [Has two acres of land and a cow.] — 7. Woman ; one boy and one girl ; a widow, and not in constant work. — 8. Woman ; two girls ; a widow ; often sick and without means. — 9 Man ; Is. a day ; two boys and one girl ; alleges he is not in constant employment. [He and one son are at present employed at 63. per day each.] — 10. Man, 6d. a day ; one boy; old and lame, and without means. Okehunga. — 1. Widow; five girls; cannot go out to work. [Has one acre and a house.] — 2. Man; three boys; 67 years of age, and not able to work. [The boys are not able to work.] — 3, Woman; one boy and one girl ; deserted by her husband. [She keeps a very small shop.] — 4. Man; two boys and one girl ; alleges he is not in constant work, but at present working for 6s. per diem. — 5. Shoemaker ; one boy and one girl ; alleges he is unable to educate his children. [They have about £20 per month income.] — 6. Woman ; three boys and one girl ; deserted by her husband. [Some weeks she can earn £2 or £3 a week, and soiie weeks nothing.] Howick — 1. Woman ; two boys and ono girl ; insufficient means. — 2. Man ; Is. 2d. ; two boys ; too old for work. — 3. Man ; Is. j a boy and a girl ; cannot get employment. — 4. Man; two girls ; insufficient employment at trade. — 5. Man; six boys and three girls ; large family, and cannot get work. — G. Man ; Is. l^d. ; two toys ; unable to get work. — 7. Man; 9d. ; three boys and a girl ; very old. — 8. Widow ; boy and girl ; insufficient , means. — 9. Widow ; two girls ; insufficient employment. — 10. Man ; Is. ; two boys and girl ; no employment, and one of hia family disabled. — 11. Man ; 6d. ; four boys and two girls ; •mployed only two or three days in the week — 12. Man; Is.; boy and two girls ; cannot get constant work at present ; working at the Thames. — 13. Man ; boy and firl ; the same as in the previous case.— l 4. Lan ; threeboys and three girls ; not sufficient work at hia trade, and is often troubled with asthma. — 15. Man ; Is. 2d. ; boy and girl ; very old, and cannot get work. — 16. Man ; 6d. ;no steady employment. — 17. Man ; 9d. ; boy and girl ; no steady employment. — 18. . Man ; three girls ; cannot get steady employment. ' Panmure. — 1. Man ; boy and girl ; not in . constant employment. —2. Widow ; two girls; insufficient means. — 3. Man; boy and two girls ; at present at sea.— 4. Man ; three boys and two girls ; not in constant employment. — 5. Man ; three boys and a girl ; not in constant employment. — 6. Man ; Bd. ; boy and two girls ; unable to work. — ' 7. Widow ; three girls ; insufficient means. — 8. Man ; Is. ; boy and girl ; disabled. — 9. 1 Man ; 6d. ; boy and two girls ; old person ; ! three of the children are his grandchildren. ! — 10. Man ; three boys ; not constant , employment. — 11. Man ; Is. Id,; two girls ; ■ too old to work. — 12. Man ; Is. 6d. ; boy and- ■ two girls ; not sufficient employment. — 13. 1 man ; four boys and two girls ; large family, * aud not constant work. — 14. Man ; three girls ; has work only two or three days a • week. -15. Man ; 9d. ; two boys and a girl ; *■ has work only two or three days a week. — 1 16. Widow ; two girls ; not sufficient means. 1 — 17. Widow; f a girl; insufficient means. — 18. Woman ; two boyo and a girl ; insuffi1 cient means. — 19. Woman ; a boy and two ! girls ; husband at present in gaol. — 20. £ Woman ; boy and girl ; deserted by her hus- ° band, who is new in Sydney.

Oneiumga Otaliuiui Howick Pauinure Boys. ... 10 ... H 33 . 32 . ( Girls. 9 13 26 28 . T Cotal. 19 27 59 60 Total . 165