RETRENCHMENT.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 8861, 19 July 1890, Page 6 (Supplement)

RETRENCHMENT.

TO THE EDITOE. Sib,—There are two things at the present time in this magnificent country doing more to ruiu it than anything else, to my mind; but I am open to conviction: if anyone can show me that my view 3 are wrong, I will acknowledge my error in what I at present believo to bo a fearful waste of money and a millstone round the neck of every taxpayer. The first is the payment of members iv our Houses of Assembly. It is quite plain that a large number of our members are aiming at a dissolution simply to pocket their honorarium and return homo; and ifc ia also quite clear, to my weak intellect, that the majority of our representatives think more of their £150 a year and free railway passes than they do of the welfare of their country. I believe that were tho members unpaid wo should get honafidi legislation, and there is no reason why (if a constituency has a particular fancy for a man who aannot afford to go into Parliament) that constituency should not itself find the wherewithal to send him to represent it. I now come to a still Greater curse, but one that will not bo altered until the Government is composed of men who are not dependent on every vote for their bread and cheeso. I refer to the Fifth and Sixth Standards of education. This education expenditure is taxing us out of the country, aud draining our country of its life blood; and for what good ? Not that it makes better men and women of our boys and fiirls: it ruins nice-tenths of them, it teaches them to consider all manual labour undignified, aud to fviai at being clerks or counter-jumpers rather'than being farmers or miners; even a worse fate overtakes the girls, who are spoilt by being over-taught. When the colonies can show, as a result of their education system, that they can bring forth statesmen, poets, authors, &c, of note, then perhaps I might ba inclined to change my views. I shall here be met with the response," Give us time; we haven't had time yet." Well all I can say is there is no appearance of any such at present. It wonld be very much wiser to give scholarships, and let those who could win them educate themselves to be Prime Minister or to any height they like; but to teach Tom, Dick, and Harry just enough to prefer to wear a black coat in town rather than work in the country is falso philanthrophy—anyhow I think so, but as I stated beforo I am open to conviction. " Tho proof of the pudding is in the eating"—•'«., a deserted back country and overstocked towns.—l am, &c, •Myl4- a, w. p.