The Education Question.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume I, Issue 26, 11 August 1887, Page 4

The Edu cation Question.

Mb Ivxsb, an i ’pponeut of Mr Ormond, has made tha following remarks on the education question:-While desirous of using tl » e pruning knife, I would hesitate \ , la y the axe on the foot of that stat ely tree, our free, national system Oi education. (Applause.) The cost ° f education in Ne* t eSlShd is ldW\ Y than in many other yourig Whrttfi «»• I consider thb highest ambitioti «" colonist should be to see his 6.'“Wren better educated, and fitted to fk ’®to a higher position than himself. *t “the sth and 6th Standard ate loppa d oft. what chance would the children the in« dustrial classes have to r^ c • have universities, collages, ant, tram-1 ing schools, but how many children of the industrial class es are able to take advantage of them ? I know that not more than three from .my late district of Wakanui, attended Any High School. Those institutions, to tny mind, were started entirely in the ii iterests of the wealthy classes. (Hem •, hear, and applause.) A saving rnfgh t be made by abolishing the Education Board, and giving their work to a Central Board at Wellington. This Would not only be more economical in my opinion out would improve the

management, because small Boards are open to petty jealousies and jobbery and political influences. In 1881 two million acres of land were reserved expressly for the promotion of higher education. It would be wise to resume and sell the land, and apply the proceeds to establish scholarships, so that any bright young mind might be enabled to rise to the highest state of education. (Applause.) And those scholarships should be open to all. It is admitted that educated intellects take the lead, and, although a man may make his way in the world by mere force of character, no one will consult the uneducated man. I desire to see every child well educated. (Hear, hear.) I wish to see New Zealand governed by young New Zealand, by the young men now growing up. let, just to save themselves a slight extra tax, the rich desire to see the education vote cut down. If I should be elected, I would oppose any retrenchment of the standards. (Hear, hear, and applause.