STATE EDUCATION

Northern Advocate, 3 February 1928, Page 6

STATE EDUCATION

VIGOROUS POLICY.

SYDNEY, This Day./

Strong condemnation of the inadequacy of the existing educational system of New South Wales was made by the Minister for Education (Mr Drummond), when addressing members of the Newcastle Chamber of Commerce.

Although New South Wales was the richest of any of the States in natural resources, Mr Drummond said, the amount of money spent on technical education was the lowest. Today 40,000 children in the State were without proper school accommodation, and this number would be considerably augmented in the near future. If the Government was to have the credit of saying that it had provided something like adequate education facilities, then it would have to spend £2,100,000. The Treasurer, the Minister said, had already promised him £600,000, and lie felt confident that, if public opinion was behind him in his efforts, the ncccssay money would be forthcoming to enable the Education Department to make up the leeway of the last few vears.

Mr Drummond said that any money spent on educating and fitting for life future citizens of the State was money well invested. It was very seldom that trained . artisans were found among the criminal classes, and on a recent unofficial visit to Long Bay Penitentiary, the Governor had remarked to him that whatever the sins of the skilled tradesman might be, they did not lead him to gaol. In conclusion, ho said that commensurate with' the amount of money available, the Government was determined to enforce a vigorous and progressive educational policy.