Education.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 241, 1 July 1876, Page 8

Education.

THE UNIVERSITY QUESTION. (From the New Zealand Times.) The other day we were informed, through the telegraph, that “at a meeting of the Board of Governors of the Canterbury College the Hon. E. W. Stafford estimated that the annual income of the college from its reserves will shortly be £10,000.” We presume that when Mr. Stafford expressed this opinion it never once occurred to him that such a fact (if fact it be) could be matter for anything but congratulation. We are sorry that we are unable to view the case entirely in that light. We were startled when we read the statement, and did. we not know that Mr. Stafford is little given to making loose assertions of the sort, ive should be inclined to question its substantial accuracy. But coming from such an authority, we must accept it. Now, from what source, public or private, this vast endowment comes, we are not aware. We assume, howver, that there is very little likelihood of any private individual or individuals having as yet in this colony loosened their purse strings to such a tune as this. AVe cannot be much wrong in setting it down to some form or other of public endowment. What may be the exact or even the approximate extent of the undoubtedly rich endowment of the Otago University we do not know; but it cannot be much less, if less at all, than this of the Canterbury College. Now, here in one province of this colony, which in its whole extent holds some 350,000 people, we have a single collegiate body endowed with an income greater by at least £IOOO than the public endowment of the University of Melbourne, which supplies, and is now proved to be more than sufficient to supply, the wants of the colony of Victoria, with nearly a million of people. That university never had, and has not now, more than £9OOO of annual public endowment. How much the endowments of all the collegiate bodies throughout this colony when brought together in one total would amount to, we are in no position to say. We are, however, quite justified in hazarding the conjecture that it must be,, if only looked at in the abstract, something enormous, and if looked at relatively to the general wealth of the colony and its educational state, something outrageous. Here. at this very time we have the education boards in several parts of the colony actually suing in forma pauperis. The educational condition of the great bulk of the people throughout New Zealand, is far indeed from satisfactory, or anything like it, and yet here we have comparatively small bodies endowed with princely incomes. Only just think of it. Is it not well fitted to shock the conscience of any rightminded man, that while the general primary education of the country is in such a state, the public resources should be devoted to such purposes as these? If these vast educational resources of Otago and Canterbury were appropriated only in such a way that the entire body of the people must share in their benefit, there would be something to say for them. But certain we are that such cannot possibly be true to any appreciable extent. Now, who are they who will be, and must, for long, be almost the sole recipients of whatever good can come of these establishments? We say at once the sons of rich men, of people who are well able to pay for this sort of education for their children without having it brought to their doors, not only at the expense, but, as we truly believe, to the serious injury, in other ways, of the colony In what way these institutions might injure the colony, we to some extent showed on a former occasion ; and since that time we reprinted, in our issue of June 15, an article from the Melbourne Argus. This article from the Argus -will show what serious alarm this aspect of the case is now inspiring there ; and if that can be the case in Victoria, how much more so in New Zealand ? This view of the question is, however, only incidental on this occasion. We return to the point, and we say that the faces of the poor should not be ground, as they are, in other parts of the colony, for education, rates, while in two provinces the public estate is poured out with lavish and wanton profusion on objects which can at best be beneficial only to a few rich people, and may probably be mischievous to a large number—such a state of things, we say, is cruelly unjust and shocking. It is very clear that this question of public education will almost immediately become the turning question for the colony, and we wish to see the public mind well instructed beforehand, so as to be in a proper frame to deal effectively with it. Now, let us not be misunderstood or misrepresented. To say that Otago and Canterbury have no right to their vast educational reserves drawn from the colonial estate is one thing, and we do not say that. But that these provinces should not be permitted to misappropriate the public estate to purposes which can benefit only a few, and may possibly

injure a considerable number —that is another thing, and we do clearly assert this latter proposition. Now, again, let us guard against misapprehension. We are not saying that these collegiate establishments are doing and can do. no good. We make no such assertion, for it would be both untrue and idle. But we do say that so far as these institutions are likely at present to be extensively efficient, they will most certainly do more harm than good. Tins is the proper way to look at all social questions. We must not take one side of them only, and if that shows some satisfactory aspect, rush off with the conclusion that this is the whole affair. All social things are, by their nature, relative, not absolute, and they must for that reason be looked at in every aspect, and if on the whole they do good, it is well, but if on the whole they do evil, nobody can call it good. AYe should advise those persons who may be surprised at this sort of talk to take a look at the excellent article from the Argus, already noticed, and also, if within reach, they may look at the London Spectator for June 6, 1874, on the “Aristocracy of the Hod.” On a future occasion we shall have something to say about the way these institutions are attempting or pretending to do their work. But at present, without any reference to their well or ill doing of it, we say that it is in the last degree unsatisfactory to have the public resources squandered away on objects which may be extensively mischievous, and can at best be beneficial to a few people who are well able to help themselves without resorting to the public estate. It ■would be hard perhaps to produce a more unlovely aspect of provincialism than this very fact, that it has by its direct working brought about such a cruelly unjust misappropriation of the public estates as we here note. AVe shall have other opportunities of noticing this unsatisfactory university question from time to time, and in the various social and public phases which it presents. EDUCATION BOARD. The regular monthly meeting of the AYellington Education Board washeldonAVednesday afternoon. There were present—The Hon. C. J. Pharazyn, chairman ; Rev. J. C. Andrew, Messrs. Toomath, Beetham, Gisborne, AYatt, and Fleetwood. The minutes of last meeting were duly read and confirmed. ‘ private schools. The Secretary read the following report submitted by a committee appointed at the previous meeting : “That, inasmuch as it is quite uncertain what will be the nature of the new arrangements to be made by the General Government for carrying out education throughout the whole colony, the committee consider that it would be wise to continue the old arrangement with the two Church of England schools at Te Aro and Thorndon, inasmuch as there is no sectarianism in the arrangements made with these schools, the religious instruction being open to all religious bodies alike, and the committee therefore recommend that the former arrangement be extended for another term of six months from the termination of the existing notice. “ With regard to the two Roman Catholic schools in Hill-street and Boulcott-street, the committee do not recommend that any steps be taken at the expiry of the present notice, as the Terrace school was purchased with a view to the amalgamation of thsse two schools, in order to save expense to the ratepayers.” There was a long and irregular conversation on the subject of the report, and several motions on the subject were suggested, though not proposed. Finally, the following was agreed to: —That the thanks of the Board be voted to the vestries of the respective churches of St. Peter and St. Paul, for their liberality in granting the use of their schoolrooms in the past, and that they be respectfully requested to allow the present arrangement to be continued. It was also resolved, — That a similar offer be made to the Roman Catholic body to renew the present arrangement with their school in AVanganui, on the same conditions as that with the Church of England. ADDITIONAL SCHOOL ACCOMMODATION. Mr. Gisborne moved, and it was agreed to, That in view of the possible early termination of the special agreements between the AVellington Education Board and the Church of England and the Roman Catholic Church in the city of Wellington, it is desirable that additional school accommodation be provided by the Education Board ; that a committee, consisting of the chairman, Air. floomath, and the mover, be appointed to advise what steps should be taken for providing this additional school accommodation. RESERVES. It was unanimously resolved, —That the chairman be requested to write to his Honor the Superintendent, inquiring what action had been taken, or is contemplated, in reference to the subject brought under his notice on the Bth October last, of the reservation of lands as an endowment for education purposes in the province of AYellington. SUPERIOR SCHOOLS. No report having been received from the committee appointed to consider this subject, it was postponed till next meeting. The remainder of the business was of a purely routine character. The Board adjourned at 1 p.m., to meet again this morning at 10 o’clock.

Thursday, June 29. The adjourned meeting of the Education Board was held this morning at ten o’clock. RESERVES. Sundry tenders for leasing educational reserves were accepted. GREYTOWN SCHOOL. The Inspector’s report on the complaint of the master of Greytown school was read, and the following resolutions were adopted :—l. “ That as the management and conduct of a school rest with the head master, and therefore necessitates compliance with his method and wishes by the assistant, it becomes the duty of the head master to show his assistant and explain to him in what way the teaching of the school can be best carried on.” 2. “That the Board approves of the Inspector’s report on Mr. Wakelin’s complaint, and instructs that a copy of the said report be forwarded to him.” RIVER BANK. Tenders were ordered to be called for the River Bank school, Wanganui. MANGARAE. It was resolved that the Mangarae school ground be fenced at once. SUPERIOR SCHOOL. The Board resolved itself into committee on this subject, but after some desultory discussion, adjourned till Saturday, as the Inspector had not yet prepared his report. This concluded the business.