ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1319, 5 November 1880, Page 2

ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE OAMAKU MAIL

Sir, —Like the spendthrift who has mortgaged his patrimony to such an extent that' he cannot obtain further accommodation, the Colony ha 3 had to retrench and reorganise for the purpose of reducing its expenditure. But, like tho SDendthrift also, whose retrenchment consists principally in lowering his servants' wages, the Colony has not yet seen fit to do without its expensive luxuries. Tho railway officials and school teachers havo had to contribute their quota—the ono to a system of railway business which doca not .of itself pay, the other to a system of education which anticipates no pay ; or, in fewer words, railway servants' salaries have been reduced to help to pay for tho cheap conveyance of the publio, and schoolmasters' salaries have been reduced to help to pay for the eduoation of their scholars. This cannot last long, and probably duriug next session of the Assembly the Eduoation Act, ono of our costly luxuries, will either be considerably amended or repealed. Under it, at sent, School Committees have the glorioua privilege of managing " educational matters within the sohool districts," of " providing school-houses" of " supplying school apparatus, and everything necessary for the efficiency of the schools provided by them," and of indulging in litigation with its many uncertainties, and, expenses to compel scholars to attend their schools while they are left almont; without funds, and have no power to rata or levy contributions. Virtually the Committees are expeoted to make brioka without straw* and what good is to be derivod , from it all ? —Nobody knows. Tho Committees are at present anomalies ; excopl in the larger towns, where every aohool haa a Committee to itself, and this mittee generally consists of ovovy house* holder in the district wl\a is a parent,, often even of some who, aro not parentß. It is in some districts impossible to find seven settlers fit ta act as members, and as persons must be chosen, or tha district disfranchised, unsuitable men aro elected. If the school districts were larger this difficulty would be less likely to exist. Seven suitable men might bo chosen from the greater multitude whilo incompetent men might be left out. But even after good men are chosen, a means must be available for obtaining a sufficient supply of funds. I may return to the subject, in the meantime I rciternto tho assertion that the Educational Institution is a costly luxury, and probably will bo either lopped or chopped at next session of the Assembly.—l am, &c., Settim,