PROPOSED EDUCATION ACT.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 12, Issue 950, 9 June 1868, Page 2

PROPOSED EDUCATION ACT.

Subjoined is reprint of an Act introduced into the Provincial Council, this session, by Mr. Rhodes, one of the members of the government. It was read a first time last week, and its second reading made an order of the day for Thursday next. The necessity for this measure arises out of the state of the Provincial chest, from which can no longer be spared the large sums' which have been annually devoted to purposes of education within the province, and the expenditure of which sums, in a sparsely populated district like this, would seem to be unavoidably necessary if the means of education are, as they have heretofore been, to be placed within the reach of all. The low state of the Provincial funds has doubtless been the immediate cause of this Act being framed ; but, sooner or later, under any circumstances, the burden would have fallen upon resident householders ; and we trust that, seeing the vital importance of the object in view — that of placing education within the reach of all classes — they will bear it cheerfully. The details of the Act will be open to criticism for a day or two, and we trust such criticism will be fully bestowed. We think the government greatly to blame for leaving till the last moment the preparation of a measure in which so many are interested. Much better that it should have been drafted and published three months ago. It will be seen that the province is to be divided into a certain number of districts, the householders in which are to be rated for educational purposes. The rate is to be levied on all houses with a rental of £10, but the amount of rate is left blank, as also is the number and limits of educational districts. The sum collected in each district will be at the disposal of a local board, to be elected by rate-payers, which will have the power of appointing and removing teachers, and possess control, generally, over the school or schools in their districts. So far, the provisions of the bill seem equitable enough and fitted, to attain the object in view, but we commend it to the careful perusal of householders generally, more especially those to whom the cause of education is dear at heart, as fraught with consequences, good or evil, to the future of the province.