SECONDARY EDUCATION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 9490, 20 April 1894, Page 5

SECONDARY EDUCATION .

DEPRECIATION OF ENDOWMENTS. [nV TKLKQRAPH.—OWN CORRESPONDENT.] Wellington, Thursday. It is stated that several of the Boards in charge of " higher education" have overrun the constable and will be suppliants for assistance from the public funds during the coming session of Parliament. Although most- of them had been substantially endowed, the educational necessities of a rapidly-increasing population largely exceed the value of the endowments, so it is said. There is another cause assigned for bhe difficulty, which some of these establishments have in fulfilling their engagements. Ib is affirmed in one case, and the cause assigned in that case is applicable to ethers, that the prices of produce have fallen so low that the Boards have been obliged to lower the rents to their tenants in occupation of these endowments. Retrenchment has not been able to keep pace with this depreciation, and hence the application to the Colonial Treasurer. The VVellington Girls' School has offered to sell Its endowment of 800:) acres at the Hutt, and the Government has expressed its willingness to buy at a price and cut) up the land for settlement. The complaint from Otago is regarded as the more significant, inasmuch |as the authorities there ■ have spared no expense for adequate equipment, The claims of other places for higher education must, it is said, he met by further endowment or direct subsidy. Every part of the colony, argues the Time", must be put upon equal footing as regards secondary education. Whether the time is opportune for a general movement on this subject is another question. On the opposite side of the argument it is alleged some of the Boards have sunk their revenue in buildings of a pretentious and costly character—tnab, in effect, they have anticipated the future by unnecessary expenditure in laying brick and mortar in town, while leaving their rural lands to hazard of good tenants or bad. I am told that a general movement in the direction of extending the facilities 'for higher education will take place during the next session. So far as Wellington is concerned, she is well represented on this subject. Sir Robert Stout was the promoter of a Bill in 1885-6 to establish a University College in Wellington. As senior member for Wellington he will be no less zealous in 1894. Ho will be seconded by his colleague!*, Mr, B«ll and Mr. Duthie.