EDUCATION

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 11252, 3 July 1922, Page 8

EDUCATION

ITS BENEFIT TO NEW ZEALAND. Speaking at Marlborough College recently, Sir Joseph Ward said that in his judgment there was nothing more important to the fjiture of this country than a well-educated people, and in that respeot we were in an extremely fortunate position as _ compared with other oenntries. He said he remembered, about 33 years ago, taking ont figures showing the number of people in the country who could neither*read nor write, apd at that time they represented a very large proportion of the population. However, today we were in the proud position of having fewer illiterates than any other country in the world. This indicated the evolutionary progress which had gontf on in the matter of imparting education to the people. Out of the vast number of people who, about 30 years ago, were unable to read or write, it was believed that nearly every one came to the country from outeide. It was now considered that there were less than 4 per cent, of illiterates. The young minds of those bom in New Zealand, weighing with their seniors, had ah tiered tho average in tliis striJdaf fashion.