THE Marlborough Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. WEDNESDAY, JUNE 6, 1888.

Marlborough Daily Times, Volume X, Issue 314, 6 June 1888, Page 2

THE Marlborough Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. WEDNESDAY, JUNE 6, 1888.

Fob the first time this session the proceedings in Parliament have become interesting. At yesterday’s sitting Mr Ormond’s motion, which he intends to move before the t iriff proposals are discussed, was partly traversed. The member for N?pier contends that by raising the school age to six years a saving of £25,000 a year can be effected; that the payment of subsidies to local bodies be abandoned, in order to savo tho proposed extra duty on tea ; and that the raising of additional revenues to the extent of £58,000 for two years by means of a primage duty, is inexpedient, and tho deficit for last year be funded. As Government have invited the House to consider their tariff proposals irrespective of all party feeling, Mr Ormond’s motion —practically one of want-of-con-fidence —is robbed of that distinctive character ; in fact, _it is asserted that the Premier and Mr Ormond are in collusion regarding the introduction of the proposals. The raising of tho school ago to six years, however equitable it may be in large centres of population, will result in half of the smaller schools being closed, and from the number of small schools in Marlborough probably no district in the Colony would feel the effects of such a policy more disastrously. The abolition of Education Boards is another direction in which it is proposed to tinker with the Education Act. We venture to assert that the £2OOO that these Boards cost will be badly saved by their abolition. If the administration of the Act were centered in Wellington, it is doubtful if the saving would amount to any substantial sum. At anyrate, we are certain that the administrative effectiveness and popularity of the system would be greatly impaired. When we consider that one or other of the members of the Boards are personally acquainted with every hole and corner of their district, it follows that their local knowledge must be of great value in controlling the expenditure of funds and in supervising public education w'ithin its bounds. The vast amount of attention required to details precludes the possibility of an effective central administration more economical than the present system. With regard to the proposal to do away with subsidies to local bodies: the Premier objects thereto on the ground that real property has now had cast upon it the maintenance of roads and charitable aid. That is a.sound objection. Tho discussion on the financial proposals of the Government and the result thereof will be looked forward to with interest.