The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. MONDAY, DECEMBER 16, 1935 FRANK STATEMENT.

Hokitika Guardian, 16 December 1935, Page 4

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. MONDAY, DECEMBER 16, 1935 FRANK STATEMENT.

Some of the new Labour Ministers in approaching their tasks are saying some very sensible things indicating they realise there is not any royal road to recovery to he quickly devised. Tile Prime Minister struck that note from the very first, and now the members of the Cabinet are speaking in a similar key. It is wise to move cautiously and above all to take the people into their confidence as they propose to move step by step. Another Minister, the Hon. P. Eraser, the first lieutenant of the party, Minister of Education, was welcomed as Minister last week by the Wellington Education Board. Mr Fraser was very frank in his statement acknowledging the compliment paid him, and his remarks are worth quoting to indicate the spirit in which he is entering on bis responsible duties., He began by saying there were many things, he would like to take hold of right away, shatter and rebuild, but the progress must be determined by finance. He asked for help and assistance and above all tolerance when facing the immediate problems. ft is satisfactory to an extent ti> learn that the Minister recognises* the limitations of the situation so clearly, and that he must attempt his task with the greatest discretion. Let him speak for himself: “I approach my duties in a very humble spirit,” be said, “because I realise the importance of education and because T realise liow vital are the duties of the head of the department and the representative of the Government. He is faced with very difficult problems, some the result of policies adopted in the past and some inherent. I know pist enough about education to know how little I know.” Mr Fraser said, in

undertaking his new work, lie had been really overwhelmed by the amount of goodwill ihe had experienced and by the oilers to help and co-operation he had received. He expressed appreciation of the work of education boards, teachers, school ’ committees and parents and of their kindness to him. “We cannot work miracles,” he said. .“As you know, the heart of Government, national or local, is the finance. There is no necromancy about money; you cannot wave your arms and spirit it out of the skies. The wealth available can be used for the benefit of the child. “1 place the physique of the child first,” he continued. “By that 1 mean the effect on the child of its living condition. 'Give the children a chance physically and then educationally and intellectually, so that they can grow up the best type of citizen. That seems to me to be the aim and object of government. “When I was told,” he said later, “that every i year you, as a board, with about 220 schools in your care, have received £3(55 for ground improvements, I realised you are at least competitors with the Israelites of Egypt. What you have done is really wonderful.” All this js much clearer thinking than a good deal of the talk by Labour candidates on the hustings. The discovery that there can be no ready demolition and a. quick rebuilding, due to the I limits of finance, is a find which previous government often ma'de known. But in Mr Fraser’s statements there is hope that his policy will be circumspect and not rash and hasty to encourage early disaster. Patient building up is the safe course for the country. There is always plenty for a Government to do, and the Minister is on the right track when he proposes to survey tne resouces and determine what proportion of the wealth available can be devoted to building up the education system to the higher ideals in mind.