N.Z. MAIL PUBLISHED WEEKLY. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 1889.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 914, 6 September 1889, Page 16

N.Z. MAIL PUBLISHED WEEKLY. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 1889.

Of secondary importance it is true, .compared with the State school system of education as it is commonly understood, but still being an integral part of it in an indirect way, are the industrial schools of the Colony, Very little is ever heard about these schools, beyond the casual allusion in newspaper reports when children are committed to them. And yet they constitute a system pregnant with consequences to the welfare of the Colony, involving as it does the reformation, the culture, of nearly sixteen hundred children, in all probability future mothers and breadwinners of families; and bound to influence public affairs as voters of the State.* The above number represents the children under ''State control. Some -of : thpse rirp \n the schools, some are boarded out, a ' few are with friends, : some at service learning an occupation to fit them fdr the battle with life. There is a yearly outflow of those who have served their full term, or are discharged because’of exceptional fitness, and pro- ; gress, or through the interference of friends; and on’the othpphanfl there is a yearly inflow of committed children, and so an average demand upon those schools is maintained. Nine years .ago they under the control of, the Department of Justice, but their unsatisfactory positibn led ’to the charige that has given the Department of Educat ion so}e control/ I bis change w&*j at'th.p -recognised by :s the public as highly'Judicious, and results Have quite borne out the | opinion then expressed, schools are better ordered, the children flatter prepared anfl placed fop. their final launch into the river of lifeWe are induced tp take up the questioa of Industrial Schools by a remark made in £&?}iai»ent last week <qs tfi thdfi general in-, eiflcjepcjy. As o fact, this is pot the ease. The sohools T 1 j J* ~ a system, the two •£< principles being to keep as few children in barracks as possible and to board out as many as possible. A minimum of barrack, a maximum of home - training. There «re three principal schools—Auckland, Burnham (Christchurch), and Caversham (Dunedin) ; three so-termed private schools, but really Roman Catholic— St. Mary’s (Auckland), St. Joseph’s I (Wellington), Sfc. Mary’s (Nelson), and

INDUSTRIAL SCHOOLS.

a local school, “ the Thames Industrial,” which is a charge upon that district, but is under strict Government supervision. The actual number of children in all these schools at the end of last year was 1554, of whom 571 were Catholics and 983 of other denominations. Of these, 921 were boys'and 633 girls ; and of these again 501 were boarded out and 605 were in the schools, 299 were at service under license, 118 were licensed to reside with friends, and the few remainder were in hospitals and asylums. Children are kept at school till they are fourteen years of age, and then are placed somewhere to acquire an occupation. For it has been found that learning trades in barracks under special instruction results, as a rule, in mere “ botching ’’Thereis nothing to stir the children’s emulation, they see only each other’s work, and hence a dead level of mediocrity. They do much better, are, in fact, quite up to the average ability, when trained in pubhe. But whether at board or service they are kept under strict official supervision. The cost of boarding-out used to be one shilling a day, but it is now reduced | to six shillings a week. Children j who are boarded out are kept at board till they are 12 years of age, and then are recalled to the schools to receive a couple of years’ schooling prior to being apprenticed or sent to service. B.ut it very often happens that the parties who are boarding the children are loth to relinquish their charge. Then an arrangement is come to whereby the children are allowed to remain in their care. In all districts where children are boarded out “ local visitors,” generally ladies, are appointed, oneofuhem being selected as official correspondent.” These pay monthly visit’s to the hoarders and report "to the official correspondent, who in turn communicates with the Education Department. If there is not an official correspondent the local visitors report direct themselves. Thus the Department is kept fully advised of the condition and progress of every child boarded out. Provision is also made for the inspection of all children who are at service or apprenticed. And whatever money is earned by an apprentice, or girl at service, is placod to their credit by the Department and paid to them when they receive their final discharge When that takes place depends very much on circumstances. Children who have been committed as incorrigible may improve so much as to warrant their release and return to their parents ; or where children are taken from parents on account of the degradation of thelatter,the parents may claim them if they can show they have reformed and are fit to be trusted again. It is a > standard rule of the Department not to retain a child any longer than is absolutely necessary. A most'commendable feature of the system is the 1 successful efforts made to foster individuality and self-respect aiqnpg the children Once upon a time the children were clothed and fed—well, promiscuously. There was a scramble for the clothing, and food was 'served With little regard to the tfmenitiee. But this is’ all changed now. Each child has its own clothes, and food is partaken of ‘ with due regard to comfort and decqqcy. The remark in Bayliansunt, that we alluded to further hack, implied that children were not taught anything useful while ih barracks. It is, however, all the other way! The girls have to cook and clean and tidy ; the boys to kill and dress meat, and work in the fields and help them,selves in a variety of ' ways’. At ’Burnham, where s’otne eleven hundred acres of i p'oor land form part of 'the institution. I the boys learn a !l great deal of useful,. ! farm work, an cl are kept And teaching the. girls she higher doiqestiq duties is not neglected by the matrons of the several institutions/who have the girls in turp to live 'vita Uiesy in tfieir own which *.re detached, and thero train them f'QVJgIT.side service. Wq do not thb\ 1 ' *' is the slightest * V v 1^ rt- ..... -- tor apprehension ua 7 laiJure of the objects of these industrial schools. It seems to us tlipy are being made the most of, and unouestionably they are doing the State good service. They are under the periodical supervision of the In-spector-General, Mr Habenß, who takes care to see tor himself, and, as we have already pointed out, children boarded out, and at service are under the eyes of the 11 local visitors ”, and “ official correspondents,” while the police are always available as. inspectors when required,

The Native Affairs Committee have made several amendments, in the Native Land Court Bill. The clause appointing an administrative officer is struck out, as is the clause validating past transactions. New clauses are proposed, enabling the Court to summon witnessed and to inflict a penalty for failure to give evidence or for contempt; instructing the Commissioners to inquire into cases of alleged alienation or acquisition of land prior to 1887, and report and make recommendations thereon. The Commissioners are also empowered to give a certificate which shall be deemed final if any intended alienation of land cannot be registered only by reason of some technical error, though the transaction was made in good faith.

The Wellington Women's Christian Temperance Union have petitioned Parliament for repeal of the Contagious Diseases Act.

Early on Wednesday afternoon Mr Ballance said he understood that a Committee had brought up in another place a report affecting a member of the Ministry. Did the Government propose to place a copy of the report on the table ? The Premier replied, “No, Bir, it is not the intention of the Government to take any steps of the sort.”

Mr Samuel drew the attention of the Speaker on Wednesday to what he considered was “contompbof he Horse, and a a’ use of the privilege of petitioning the Rouse.” He went on to explain that a petiti n was recently presented to the House by Mr Fitzherbert (who had previously drawn his attention to it) from John Mynott and others, of New Plymouth, Several persons who had signed the petition had stated since that they did so under the impression that it referred to another matter altogether. He read a dec’arafcion made by John Hooper, of New Plymouth, before a Justice of the Peace, stating that he was induced by Mynott to sign a blank sheet of paper under the impression that it referred to a different matter. Mr Samuel submitted that the person who had obtained the signatures in this way was guilty of grave contempt. Mr Thompson, chairman of the Petitions Committee, said a number of persons who gave evidence asked, when they fouud what the nature of the petition was, to have their names withdrawn. The Speaker :It seems to be a very bad oase. Mr Fitzherbert explained that he had simply presented the petition after shewing it to Mr Samuel. He was asked by a gentleman in Wellington to present it. The Speaker said of course members oou’d. not be held responsible for oetitions except to see that they were bonj fide. Mr Samuel said he could not blame the member for the Hutt except that the person who gave him the petition might not have been reliable. Mr Fitzberbert : A member of our own profession handed it to me. Mr Samuel: Ah! In answer to Mr Hobbs, the Speaker said the person who had obtained signatures in this way was guilty of contempt, and deserved severe punishment. Mr Samuel intimated that he would not propose at that period of the session to take any steps in the matter. The petition referred to prayed for an inquiry into the conduct of the Official Assignee at New Plymouth, and the Petitions Cominittea declined to make any recommendation on it.

A deputation consisting of Messrs Pyke, Anderson, Barron, Fish, Fitchett, Allan, J. McKenzie and Valentine, waited on the Premier and asked what were the intentions of the Government ■ with respect to the Otago Central-Railway. The Premier said the money already roted to take the line to Middlemarch would be expended, and the line was expected to reach that point by about November of next year. He promised the deputation that next year he would mafee extension to Eweburn an eisentfifi feature of the Government policy, bqt declined to give a pledge that tfie Government would stake their existence on it, - The deputation urged the Premier to make proposals this session for oontinu'ng the line to Sir Harry ■ Atkinsonuatd it was'-practically impossible to do -'SO; The deputation then wit-idrevv,' expre-sing tliemLelves fairly well satisfied with the result of’the interview.

The conference of representatives of the House and' Legislative CO.UUcil QU the Fire i and Marine liiaqvaqee Companies Bill has comp t 6 afi arrangement; It has been decided to abandon My Downie Stewart’s clause (providing that all fire insurance policies and receipts' shall only be issued subject to regulations to be made by Order .in-Council), and to retain the clhuse moiled by Sir 'John : Hall, which allows the texisteuce of oosy ! parties formed for insuring' the pTioperty of i their shareholders, providing the capital of such cbmpaniea'is not’less than £25,000, and ' tbs 'uncalled Capital not less tlutn £25,G00. : In 'the CasOof the latteb clause an amendment Was made defining a shareholder as the holder 1 of shares to the Valiie'bf £.1.0, of, whiqH is paid up. ' The mischief. tfirs wifi T%d,onß by : Sir' johu Haffis clause haS already freer ■ ia edluixinS,

’The £pcal Bills WM W 8 directed to rapo.rfc §9 rfe With local B}\\s qq the Order. P-iser, that &-%o Bfils whieh \n the iota— * locality should ***' .06 of the they shquhl " - order iu which „jnsidered is as fofiows : ._„e Publio Library, Timaru High School, Queenstown Athenmum, Gisborne Harbour. Napier Harbour, Waitohi River Bed! Waimate Reserves Sale, Geraldine Racecourse, Geraldine Public School Site, Riverton . Corporation Empower ng, Wei. lington City Empowering, New Plymouth High School, Mastorton Trust Lands and Nelson Foreshore Reserve Bills. Bills to which notice of opposition has been given, but which should be proceeded with are: Borough of Brunner, Wellington School of Design, Oam&ru Harbour Loan, Onchunga Cemetery, and Devon pert Cemetery Bills, ’-fib 0 Committee "strongly recommend that the Qlsborne Harbour Bill shouldTbecome law without delay, omitting section 12 (which further defers the refund of overdraft). It was decided on the Premier’s motion last night that the House should meet on Monday at 5?t3Q 90ft;

sideration of, the first-named 14 Bills, the Borough of Brunner Bill Being added,, on the suggestion of Mr Sefidop., As will be Seed elsewhere, most of the Bills passed;

Mr Wilson is to ask the Minister of Education, if, during the rbcess, he will (i) issue a circular to all Education Boards and Inspectors inviting any suggestions for the improvement of the Byllabus for primary education ; (2) hold a conference or appoint a Commission to take these or any other suggestionsMnto consideration, and to report whether any alteration should be made ?

Mr Joyce is to ask the Minister of Justice if he will devise some means for the proper custody of all the objects produced in the Chemis trial, or which have come into the custody of the police in the course of their investigation, as well as of all articles produced at the recent preliminary hearing of the charge of perjury against one of the members of the police force.