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New Zealand Mail, Issue 662, 31 October 1884, Page 18

Yery unfair tactics were adopted in the ITouseyesterday afternoon week by one of the opponents of the Wellington College Reserves Confirmation Bill. The member for Kumara deliberately talked it out. In the course of his speech he frequently denied that he had any intention of doing so, but not one of his hearers believed him. The honourable gentleman would have shown to more advantage if he had been silent on the point. Under the most facile code of morality unnecessary departure from the truth is regarded as injudicious. If the Bill had been in the hands of a private member it would have had but a poor chance of-coming to the top of the Order Paper again during this session ; but for some reason or other the Premier had taken charge of it, and it may therefore be regarded in some sort as a Government measure. Mr Stout is not likely to allow the victory to remain permanently with Mr Seddon, and the College Governors may still hope to obtain justice. Why Mr Seddon should have specially singled out this Bill for dogged opposition we cannot say. His arguments against any -endowments for higher education were, as far as he was concerned, not genuine. He alluded to the dearth of reserves for secondary education in Westland, and complained that the High School Acts for that district were inoperative for lack of the necessary funds. It is probable that he will ask for special assistance in some shape or other for those embryo institutions, and in lieu of a money vote would willingly accept

a substantial grant of land. It is just possible that when the claims of Westland are brought before the House his speech of the other day may be had in unfavourable remembrance. It ought not to be so, but members of Parliament are but human, and he' who plays at bowls must expect rubbers. But if Mr Seddon’s arguments against the policy of granting endowments for secondary education had been honestly put forward, and if they had beeu unanswerable, they would have had no bearing on the question which the House ought, in common fairness, to have been allowed to decide. The advocates of the Bill contended, and we say justly contended, that what was sought was the means of giving effect to a promise made years ago by the Superintendent of Wellington, and subsequently ratified by successive Governments. The College authorities are asking to be put in legal possession of what is equitably their own, and it is no answer to their application to say that it is bad policy to grant endowments for secondary education; that the people in the locality where these reserves are situated are opposed to the passing of the Bill; or that the large centres ought to support their own high-class schools. Considerations of good faith demand that this measure shall become law. At the same time there need be no hesitation in asserting that the Wellington College is an institution which confers great benefits on both town and country, and that in those benefits the people in the neighbourhood of the reserves in question have the opportunity of sharing. We feel sure that under the circumstances the Premier will seethe advisability of again bringing the Bill forward. It will have to be considered by the Waste Lands Committee after the second reading.