EDUCATION V. TAXES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVI, Issue 5634, 6 December 1879, Page 6

EDUCATION V. TAXES.

TO TIIE EDITOR. Sm, — that tho Government have found it necessary to impose a great burden on the community by taxation, I think it is time for us to look things in the face, and see if there is not a great injustice done to a largo portion of tho community by tho present Kducation Act. I am now an old man, and in my time have paid for tbo education of my family; and now, in my old age, I j must be taxed to pay for the education of other people's chiidron. On passing tbe school in Wellesloy-street the other day, I was struck at the sight of such a fine lot of children attending the school, and I thought that if 1 was the parent of any of those children I should be ashamed to let them have a pauper's education at the expense of tho S:ate, at such a time as this, when the country is almost impoverished. It may be argued that the parents of these children pay their share of the taxes, but why should 1 share with them injthis matter ? I might as well be called upon to help to feed them. It is as -much their duty to educate their children as it is to feed and clothe them, and not throw the burden on the community.

' poyernment first proposed the . 'noir principal argument wa» that they intended it for the better instruction of the waifs and stray of society, but I see tho same poor children gathering bones and bottles, ana stealng anything that comes in their way, while the Bchools are filled with children whose parents can well afford to pay. . large deficit in the revenue has been m £! n |y caused by the leckless manner iu which this education scheme has been carried on. Now, I thiuk it is t'me that the u ®honld be placed on the right ° U u 6P * present time I cannot i purchase anything for my use without pay- I £g share of this extravagant expense for j the benefit of people who can well afford to ' pay ifc themselves. If the capitation of 10 shillings for each child, which was a part cf the bill at first, was reirnpo ed, it would not be so bad, but to throw a'l the burden on the country is too bad, and a great injustice to a large portion of the c »mmunity. It has been said that th 9 system was required for the better education of the rising generation, but there is no improvement in that direction, but rather the reverse. I have been in the colonies 42 years, and have always seen proper efforts made to educate the young by those ho took an interest in their welfare. I see by the Estimates that over a quarter of a million is voted for education this year, and, when it is considered that nearly half of this is paid by those who receive no benefit from it, a great injustice is done them. I hopo such au agitation will be raised as will compel tho Government to make such alterations iu the Act as will relieve me aud others from the burden oF educating other people's children. A very common argument in favour of the Act is, that it does away with sectarian feeling, but I feel certain it only intensifies it instead of abating it. Let anyone go to the different Sunday-schools, and there they may satisfy themselves of what I state to be a fact. I would likewise advise them to look at the little books they put into the hands of the children, much of which is of the mo?t outrageous kind, both in theology aud history, and more than ever to create sectarianism in tbe community.—l am, &c., JOHN Playford.