The Guardian Ana Evening Star, with winch is incorporated the West Coast Times TUESDAY. DECEMBER 6, 1932. EDUCATION.

Hokitika Guardian, 6 December 1932, Page 4

The Guardian Ana Evening Star, with winch is incorporated the West Coast Times TUESDAY. DECEMBER 6, 1932. EDUCATION.

In the coures of a. special contribution on the national system of education the HOll. R. Allas ters, goes 011 to nay that in times ol prosperity it is a /source of gratification to any DoveniiiK’iit that as vitally concerned with Hie progress and welfare of its people to be in a position to widen the doox of educational opportunity for clularen of every rank and class and of every degreel of ability. In times of great fi..uncial stress, however such as these in which we unhappily find ourselves to-day, the community is unfortunately confronted with the realisation that it no longer possesses the means to pay for its social services on such a liberal scale as in the post. It must endeavour to cut its coat according to its cloth. It must ) in other words, be prepared temporarily to dispense with some of the J'ess essential, albeit highly desirable, features of its social services. In such' a period of stress and uncertainty’ it has fallen to. my lot to be Minister for Education, and my task, as may readily be understood, has not in some ways, been a very pleasant one. In a period of necessary retrenchments and curtailments one is beset by the conflicting claims of zealous supporters of the different threatened (services, claims put forward with admirable skill and with h. genuine appreciation of the value of the facilities hitherto provided, and it has been far from easy to determine the relative values of many of these services. Needless to say, no decision regarding any restriction or curtailment has been mode without very earnest consideration of all l the points at issue on the part of myself and the responsible officers of my Department. The most disconcerting and saddening feature of school life at the present time as the dearth of opportunities offering to the boys and gii'ls who are about to leave school. These young people are eager to take up employment and to begin the battle of life, hut in very -ninny oases they may meet with repeated disappointment. For those who have completed .a post-primary course tlie disappointment its all the greater, because they Have reached a mat urn- age, an. age mote capable of realising the inner meaning of idleness' and unemploy > Went. To those about to leave school at the .close of this year one cannot, it is to he fenred, offer much consolation regarding their prospects. I do -wish, however, to express to all of them my sympathy in these very trying times and to advise them to to seize with both hands whatever opportunity presents itself in the near future. I have been informed that latterly the number of hoys leaving post-primary schools to take up work in all sorts of positions has shown a very marked increase.'l hope that this is an augury of better times for all lads and girls about to finish _ their period of schooling. To the children still at school I would express the hope that the strenuous timers through which they are passing, and the levs favourable conditions under which they find themselves being taught, will in no wise handicap them foi their careens in later life. They, too. may help in these days of adversity by cultivating within themselves a spirit of fortitude and dogged endurance, by learning to find their pleasures rather in the simple things around them than in the more sophisticated pursuits of the wealthier or less stable youths of their acquaintance. To the teachers and those concerned with the Joda't administration of education I have also to express my sympathy; their work under present conditions h,,s undloubtedly become more arduous owing to the handicaps so unavoidably -imposed. At the same time I take this opportunity of expressing my (appreciation of their loyal acceptance of the new conditions, of their undiminished interest in the work they have undertaken, and of their honest and unabated endeavours to do their lies for the young folk of this Dominion.