The New Zealand Herald. SATURDAY, MAY 7, 1870.

New Zealand Herald, Volume VII, Issue 1967, 7 May 1870, Page 4

The New Zealand Herald.

SATURDAY, MAY 7, 1870.

Sl'Ki.TK.Mril AiiHMIU. •MiiviM'vi'i-v 111:111 tliiiiM.-.ir. Imt ft-w thy v.uc-; •|a!»>- i-ai li ihui'mm -iiinri-. l.iitivst-rvc thy jii.lK-.iicnt H.I.- :iln.\V ill:, -I'., tllll.<• ■IWII S!.|f lllMl-lU! Mi.l it inr.sl f.ilinw, «.' 11l- Illicit the 'lay, lII.MI ruli-'t ll.it 111.Ml I'.' Ws.'l'i ""J' ">i"'-'

'I'm-: principal argument of those who advocate the retention oi the Fencing Act. on our statute book? is, that the land held l>\ nine-tenths ofthe settlers will not pay lor cultivation, and thai but lor the" profits made on the cattle miming over their neighbours' land, they iniist be starved nil" 1 heir locations. This state of things applies, we believe. li> some of the lands kiniK.rtii of Auckland, but. the statement ] even there would be nearer the truth l if the proportion were reversed : w'nih.' j s.mlh of Auckland, where the bulk of ! the lauds :ire Minuted, no sueli argument would be adduced. Indeed, from , the fuel, thill it is northern settlers only who have come forward in print 1,0 defend the presen' lYnchi- Act , ; we mav reasonably assume- lha! its repeal 'would, not b'e displeasing to liesettlers iu W'aikalo and southern districts. And bene.- we are inclined to believe that a compromise be verv easily made in this important matter, which would sat is IV ail parties. Just as it. is optional with the ralepavers of a district to decide for themselves, whether they shall be rated bv the acre or by the value to .--11 : le't it be optional with the land owners and occupiers of a district to deride whether, say for a pciiod of live or leu \ears to come, the l-Vm-im-; Act shall applv to their district or not. I.ei a full "six mouths' notice of tie- time ot such vol in ■; be iixeil and advertised, aid the votes oi absentees be tendered by prow, and we should then have the matter settled ina truly constitutional manner, and by the majority of those interested. If." as so many corre.-poii-dents in the local journals writ infrom the North state to be the case, there are ilir-triets where " I'cnein- ill " would mean " depopulation,'' then 1 he inhabitant., of tie.-.- di-lricis eowid

,),,' frneimj; A i-1 a.ai-n.- I hem. and. as l!u' majority, they v. mild In- pci-le.-; iy in diem: .- •. \\ e -I" u.'t app:viir:„i, hovvevv i. that lais w.■:.'■! m- Ihe ~;i>,.. in in.»!-.- tliaii a .1 ■/••!! instate-,-s, even in tin- much abused \ orih. I-',,.- ii uiii.-i b ■ In-me in iniii-l thai ; tlic quality <•!' til'.' himls at present alienated "l'i'..!ii ii.«' natives m _ ii:.' n. «i-t ii'-rii ili.-: riels. ami oi-eupied .mi' i- not a l'a ; !' sample <>t liie ~,b ..! that part ■.!' tin' emintry. ami j iiial w.' ate. in kecpin.; a Liu- on :'.■• ; of a euansity "I i11: "*"t"l*■ i - iaun- t" pi'.'- I i,,_r :l ;; ,.|-ioiis obsiaeh- in tin- way ..; tile s-.-l t ll'lll.-:il <'!' I'V ''•'' l!l1 ' I'-i!'.;.'!-poi-ii.m • ■!' tlu- North. A- yet :• <• !r "!vos have parted with a — ns;:! i |,r..p,.i'!i..ii ..!' their '.m-ho-.-i: !amk an.l these, as a nil'', tin' W"r>t '.!my |, ;1 ,l tu .1i,p..-L' of. It is a wel; known fart. a:nl survry. »r> v,::. |~.: u - us .nit in tin-. '.ha! liin .I: vi- i. •! i line hrtucrll I an !_ !■•: ! ri ,ir:!r. :- ti.-ually t 1m- ninit .'!' lii.' !ii,u-K. ili.- nati\c owiif!- l-ayniLf s.'!.! ever, liiat uiiii'li "t' tin.- lanil is pa.s-ni'j- ,!,,..,„.:■, ii,.- Nativ L.tu-hs v..!:!■:. an i I":,;-. t '.tic !Y..viii<-ial ( li.vci-nni-.-ir is i-,- ; ..-i:i..- to ti'iillii- in lau.l. a ,piant::y nt' i-,-:ii!v .4 1 lam! will o'lit mm- !■■ in-p'rn-i'-.l in t'uc mark,-: by tin- uaiivi-,'>v,-!i---s -. na\, is iii.!i-t-.; <.. nhu-r !. but ,-,-,,,!, ■:■■■■! u'nat'.ia.-'.iv.. by lh ■■ mtv iiaiiiibi.- wliit-li w.nibl p:i-s av. ay «n:i ii,,. ,-,•:, ml cif the l-'.'liciuu' -\'-l- !•""■ ,li-i-.l> ~l' tlii.us.uiils of :n-iv- -■!' tin.land in the Nnrtln'rn dist rid > aiv ilms iiiiidri'.i t'nun s--t tb'iiK-nt in ~rib.r"ihat tli.- n.Tiipi.-rs ~f a nuinbrr ~|' v.,.,-1 i,,ris may In- cnabh-ii lu r,-minim a t" lim' "ii bind wliii-li " wdi j ■■ n,,; pav lor cult i\ at ion." | 'l'liis \ri-v aruniiiiont of tin- " lbnri:i. i•■ out" pari vis that whicli. most ol an. | ,-,,ii.1,-inns llii'in. An a.1\0,..i1,. for l!:;;: j svstrlll ;isks wh.-llicr lb" vallli- o|' liu- \ a'uririiltural prodii,',' of tin- Norih. m.; I in.-iiidiii- ,-attl,- ii--. i'i'-' pr.'.bi.-,- •■: i ,-al l !'• imported into Aii.-I.land .'. 1 , hnv -ail for tin- seliier--' porrid-...- r j I'rohai'ly m-l. and tins is the wn-y ! reason why sm-h a -y>o-in slum !•■.- ~,, |~n Mi-'e mtinued. It pi' ''-e- t'u-. ( Pint ihe ealtle runners are m.; im-

|ii'.iwrs mI the (Mini! r\ . 1"H runner.- ..: ~; . , t li- onlv --l!i:il for' tin- oeiielil ~f a | - w -if Imirlil it liIMV !><■ e.ille.l -- u, are ini.inn- tin' inn' |i'.Mr-;:«'i'iTy .if tli ■ eoiiiiii-v. :in.l llii>. '"". " lli . v llu-ir lemporarv : i'"i" :l-! ' l|! ' * i'"' ,V! i laiels become less c\leii.-ive. :in<l tlial ~f : ,|,s,lllrrs is 5..|.! an I occiipicl. ,|,.. men-asm- l.cr.ls-a ill s < ;i:..1 less rvtiMll of cro'.ni'i ii> \\at:.!.-i- ■>■..■:•. ~; 1, l ,|. ( . culture >'l" '!'<■ s "' l i':'\':'.; been lie-lectdl. tllC \«'!-> .!ep..py.',:'.ilon. ~,. .;,,,.!, ~ st ;||,. ~f p::ii|'r:- l.i-i.i:..i-.lism ;is r\i-'s in nui.'li .'l' l!i-- '';i--. rn pan ~| - l-'i-.-.n.-i-, will be tin' remit, 'rile i|ilesl!on, imleeU, of" it'll.;,l ■ i)..: I.;- •' 111" i- "I"' "'■ i ''"-' '' : " J . "'' rot IM:;r: ssio'l. ui'i'llltiv;!! !-.1l or !(■:'. V! ! I,,ur lan-ls iintillc.l nr unes ,1, c\cep:is comnmnae.•■'. ll' v '- ;v ''■'' market tor agricultural ;..'.>•!::.• u !io:i •;ro\vn, wo cotibl ini• l«• f--" :*:»■! t lie course pursui"! l\v tlm»e «'ie> leave ilicir l'in-1 unoultivate.l. on (lie increase ami produce ft Ni'ir rattle, lor tin- lit""- '* ••"' |,;l ■'.'•' "'"' " 11 "- if„ui ;i particularly profitable op.e. but wlieu remunerative prices can in; <>•>- taineil lor i'ann produce, ana wlien, to supply our wants, we have to import

largely from other countries, wo <lo not think that the State is acting wisely to keep in force a law which, pressing so hardly upon the majority of landowners as the Fencing Act does, fosters this state of non-production, and keeps up the price of food to the people generally. In tho items of butter, cheese, bacon, hams, pork, and fresh vegetables (!) no lessa sum than £ IU:5,01)0 is annually required to nnport the difference between what New Zealand colonists consume and New Zealand farmers produce. We import |~.,,s to the value of .CM.UOI) ; Hour, .£l-K>,Ol)i); bottled and fresh fruits .C - J!).0(lu : English grass, I seeds, Ctl-,000; malt, C-i 1-.000 ; grain, CiCi.OOO -. meal. L'!,')OU: and worse than all, despite the sacrifice made by ilie Art of the cultivation

(if 4lit* country tn <-n:ililc a number "I persons tn hold on to inferior lands hv the jirolits on running cattle ovrr their neighbours' crops, we had in ISCS, the year for which we have (•Muted the above statistics. 1o import^ | cattle, sheep, an.l horses to the tune of I CI l'.),i)i)() : Who, ai'ier this, will not I sav thai «'c have need to luster tne cu'ltivalion of the soil, or admit that I in pursi'mc; ail opposite course we I have even accomplished the result i promised- -the production of a sul!i----ci.-n.-v of anima! food r The fad is. j '■ fariiii'u.u' -not land occupying, hut huna fnlr farmin;; —presents just, now, and especiallv in this province, with tne marke'. at the Thames to : supplv, one of tiie best fields for ill-- : vestm'enl that need lie desired. ' here is not one of the list of imports aiiuded to above which mi-lit not he pro- ' iluced ill the colony: while there are many more to which we have not i alluded which cultivation wiihin the i colour would render unnecessary —as. for instance, the -rain used in the distillery of imported spirits, and the barlw and hops used in the pro iuclinn of I'S"',' 1 "'- worth of In ,-r imported j 'ruin Knedaud. .'. It hoii'Ji those set- | tiers having lands which \\i,l noi i jkiv for cultivation may rest content i to" eke out a subsistence by run- | a few cattle on the wa.-t e lands I around them, the province and cu.u- ---■! muuitv as a whole must no longer be content to vegetate in such a manner. Our dependence on other cull::tries :'.r agricultural ]ireduce lias been a e,rcat loss in the pas;, and we must make a vigorous eli'ort to change this state of ihni-s. One of the tir-; steps to be taken is. v. e believe, to ivp. al the Feiiciiie; Act. unless, as we have ,-u---■iesteil. it can be made iimperat i\.- ','■■<■ harm bv makii; _' it :-.;■ vcly ;; ;.:■:-,.:-- sive i::ea-niv. Whether, liowcv.-r. ■■■~-:, I :iis i-o';ipr >mise would be a wi. e :..-.

\\'i: publbhed i;i ;i ct-«-«-tn i.-.-:..- :i .-ui:iui;irv of the previsions of the bill t\ll- cx'n-'niliiiu' elementary edueai i' m in Kiitxland and Wales, iutrodiK-e I !...'■. tlif Houm' df I'cinini'ijis. on behalf .•;' 11 i, • Government, by Mr. I'orsi er. ii>-Viee-I'n sidellt cf'tlic Co'iuci!. The u--nerai vileee! is :u: ra<-:in _' a verv i.-u-'_"' :■.•(:' .u:!t ■>'.' at ii".; i> m in and i; -.■.-. >-:l'i '»• Wei: fn- us it' i'. ;.;.- t;-;i.-;i..1 -in;'' 1 ntleuti >:i in this ;hmvitv ::i:p<>:':au.-n. li:;r v. hi.-h i; i": \c!'v .':f>ii-a:>lf we she:.ld .l ; ;'v . .;...;.'..,• \!/, —.- i:::;..;!-..ry ,d.. v: : ' We will Thi-ivfi'iv u'iv-j 'i:i a''s:ra •: ■ >■' s nae •'!' the «r_".l!noiits pu; :'••;■.•.:<:■•: !, v :■■;■.,liu_' speakers a: -real .dneatieua! :no.-ti;ii;s in Km-dand ; a d al->.> «;,v ;'. word d!' two upon the sul.i e•; a vi.n.l the possibility of .beth: i!.a; in,' voluntary r-y.-l --m has faded in a ::;.>s: : :l! n ntaddo :::.;:.m-r ;■> s . , ' , '' llv tarv eduea'.ieu in Kmr'am!. ii;:: I'c.rni examination has a!.-> pr.>ve ■ iii;,t t!u- pivs.'!-.: i:ma-nre of e.,m-

Il :i;i:m-;i:-s that wli-iv the !:lr 'IT .::. i other' Aris o i T * i: - • -11;: i -_T at! el: h: i.-e a: srii'">! !■>!• half <•!' each .'.ay bv the ,-hi!!iv:i :i: work it. ■••■Main !.::;:: : ao•.oriesa.iv In •►:>--:---■■ io:i. il i> f"tt:fi t:::tt verv l're,|*;e*!tly tin* ehiMr.-n :.:••■ t.-.t »,.;.'• t,i >,•!',.!,.! ti*itii iiu-v are sen* to work. ;in• 1 ha-nee Tho education they cvfi- reeeivo is .»:' a most .-har-a.-tt r. Put ttsi' value > ■!' the . .".'iuary i'!i':i.i':!i:-n- i-inMiii'!! re.-rivod is b,-s: prove." bv" naming 111«- highest standard IV'|uire ': " by the wovernnient a< a condition nf its grants b.-mi: made ■. — "That standard was. wo are t.>!■!.: h:r •■ tin* i-'iilil shall l'i' a'do !.) read a;; •• nrditiary newspaper prra :rnp!i wit: •' iluer.ov': that it shall be :■!;;<■ t • - write that -laraL-raph >!■>'.-. 1 v <:.■•■ .'" i ■!: - thai it shall ho abb M do a >;:;, .:, '• t.u he lirst four rub-s. i lie 1 Jul ill:: ■"'::!< o '• narreis. That was tin- li \ed s' a ■ id.-rd '• of the revisede ule: vt ! hev ha ! i.. >■•■:• <■ been ahle Li pa-s •jil.iMi) ,-hi> ;•■■:■. iv '• .me v< ni' \\\v.i wore ahle to <■■•:■:■• up •• to ihai standard." Ktupiiries ma■!■• i . regard t<> Saxony. Prussia. ■m.: Switzerland. sli.iv.vii that the ididish siainia'-i! simply i ro\..k.*d a ■ .:!'.■ ■a ;,.-;i phnvd he fore 1 ho a 111 hi >:■'■. I ']■•< ruiiii.r.r.: \i'.h the primary se'-'..01s •■:' ■li.i.se e.iiimries. 'l'heir slainhi'il i\*v everv i-hihl w'ni lea\es s.-im 'I !•■■ v.-ry ■ •inch hi-h< r than the highest in P. owlish cieiiioiitarv schools, ami to wiii di mU IM.OKI) eiiihlren a-vcar a! tain. Sa \ my. ■~ it i: a population'..!'l>..Hl:>.l>lH>. passed IS.inli .verv voar mi a higher standard. "' Prussia, wdi h a nopulat inn '•ni' eighteen or niiiet-. on millions. •■ p:;s-ed lOiWl'i' every year on a •• hi_'hor standard." !; ;!i[is a;>p.*ars very .-lea;' tha: iM!ii|iii!.siirv i ■. i 111 •: 11 i i >: i is intmn.-ly ■•:•;',• su.'.'ossfui ill a.f .lining the object ~'' a - ! elementary eiiueatinn than i.-.ore voluntaryism. 'Th;* otl'eet s are ~.,.,,- ;nue!i Lrroat' :•. hnlli ;is tv-.;a:-i!s .piant i: \ and 'iiialitv. As :-0,-anls the ' fooling of int rf'erin- with the lihertv "f the subject, i; is fall that ill* erforotieo, ill respect to oiluoa'ion. i- ! hn'h a necessity, a dutv, ami a riudit. Ami the facts arc adduced that the free Cantons of .Switzerland have, one after another, 1 ;i;t j-odiiccil tlie system, and that the

North German Parliament, with the first vote of manhood suffrage, confirmed and strengthened their system of compulsory education. Thus, then, we have examples of free people, where manhood suffrage exists, imposing upon themselves a compulsory measure of education ; and we have clearly seen the results. It is argued that the very existence of the Acteven if only occasionally enforced by pains and "penalties—is of enormous value in securing regular attendance at school ; and it is a known fact that irregularity of attendance has an enormous " influence in retarding • the progress of education. It ; may be '""stated that in Prussia the school age is fixed at from six to fourteen years, and one in sir of the entire population is at school. In England the proposed school age is from live to twelve years. In reply to a letter from -Mr. Cornford, published i a short time ago in the J Ikr.u.u, we | mav state that sickness and other circumstances can be adduced as , sat isfaetorv reasons for abseuce irom j school where compulsory measures are J in force. The practical evils in connection with such a measure are very much less than he would seem to imagine. Jt being thus fairly established that compulsory education is verv much more effective, both as to | quant iiv and quality, than voluntaryism: that it is Adopted by seifI governing peoples, and that it is now proposed to be adopted in England, the most conservative of free-governed countries, it may be worth our while Ito consider whether the time | has not arrived for adopting the j svstem here, so far as may be j suited to our circumstances. In coii- ; siilering the subject, we at once come ■ i - llie conclusion that a general sys- ; tern of compulsion could not a ! moment be envied on in this province. ! 1; would be lotallv inapplicable to the 1 geueraluv o! country districts at pre- ! sen!. [Jut that it is applicable to the ' towns, aii'l io certain districts in their : immediate neighbourhood, tin.-re can ! lie no doubt: and there can be no valid i objection lo our securing the benefits : of such a measure f'r such portions ■<;'

; ih<- [i.'.r. ince as those ju.-t referred t". ! IJcncc Auckland and its neighbourhood mivdit {'airly be brought within ■ the operations of such an Act. A. n J educational district might be formed, i fur instance, by taking the Kyber j Pass road, and its continuation to the , sea. as one boundary ; then the Xewton | district, or. if thought desi- :•;:•!'•. cari'vi:::; the line aloiiLT I\arant_'a- '■ ;.:H> • !■■•:;;. Voiisonby road, and onto ' >hc!iv i;cac:i. This would torn: a com- •.;•,■; .• Veal h'.uai district.T:i which, from i cah-U::t! nvi. it is lvia vi d t here 1 ;kv at present school hi;i!dil:'_rs ; to accommodate a'.l the . children i-i-si.li::lt within it between i the a_e.s of live and thirteen, and in :,o ca.-'- at aiiv great distance {'torn the homes of.such children. And there is I also another ]i■ -illl : —There are schools I to various religious d--nomi-I !;;itions so situated in that district ! tiia! probablv r.o child who eesired to ' l: ) to a school nominally attai-hed to a ; particular place of worship would have auv diiiiculty as to d ; -uanco. ' A svstem •• :' direct compii'-ion in 1 :o;cl; ;'l .'.isTlcr wonjd cause a uo , 1 :...;.v cl.il Iron to attend >cV ,1 who , arc in 1 rn:ui;:ii ;,i become Arabs ft" tic I street* : it would insure regular.! y o! I atM-udan,--. There need be no iuU-r- ---\ i'er.-ncowi'.'.; existing organisations but tiii- — each school o l i an elementary ■ eharacier should receive a capitation L'r.iui from the provincial exchequer for ; o.u-1: child, which should pass a certain standard; exam mat ion in secular s;i'":he (;ov-.-rn!!i'-n'.. Ifibund necessary. ■:\ sch o 1 with the fc<-s somewhat i lower than those now charged in; 'ht !>c c.-.tahlishcd i:t a central part of the ' .';i:-: rict fir exceptionally poor

i e'iibhv::. a::d in all e:t>es o[ 'real p-i\oi"i" the sen. i,. 1 too should bo paid hv li'.e' !!e!iovi:ig-r!lb.'t'r. V,*c liplievo I wv !,;iv.' niVM'ii;" 1 a rough otiiliiu' of ! :• ;.;:U! ". :i:ii Would be suitable for clir ' .ve.n's : !':,:'.■ would 1)0 clastie. and I o.uiid bo applied to any pupiilou? dis- ' triet. while no rates would be reqt.ired 'a: p'.Tse:;t: no interferenee witii exi isti'.ig orgaiiisatio'is would take place : i;lie religious ilitlicult y would not '■ arise : :md with the present system of i ai'l •_ r r: , .ut(al to schools in the country, ■ vr sh.-uibl probablv have as prii'.-t leal'y ' ■ffeoiive a svst:.':n as we can hope to \ .btaiu iu our lua-sent eircumstanoes. ! !— :