MINISTERIAL FAVOURITISM.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20958, 22 February 1930, Page 11

MINISTERIAL FAVOURITISM.

TO THE EDITOE. Sib,—ln a press report in a northern paper on January 3 of this year there appeared an intimation that the Minister of 1 Education was trying to secure 17i acres for Nelson College, and; also that it was the intention this year to have the hillside planted with trees. Of course, there were large sums granted, and rightly so, to repair the earthquake- damages. But a fair thing is a fair thing. l There seems one maxim in much of our educational expenditure, viz. “To him that hath shall he given.” This is the policy of . our hostel, expenditure. You visit some of ' these hostels and they are palatial in their equipment. The Dunedin Chamber of .Commerce -has just visited Waitaki and indulged in an outburst of laudation. These great hostels are built at the expense of the average and poor man—especially those in remote country districts. There are hundreds of farmers just holding on. These have boys and girls needing secondary education, but distance and want of money deprive them of the chance. The Government will not spend a penny on paying bus fares or in paying-means of conveyance. If the pdpila can reach the train, well and good: if not, let them go. ‘ What is the-use of bigj expensive hostels to these? In some or our small country towns there is a crying need for a modest hostel where, at a moderate rate, a pupil can get board and get home for the week-end. It is high time the policy of over-feeding ; the big loud-shouting schools ceased and attention was. given to the wants of needy districts which are not tapped by railway or .provided' with hostel accommodation.

_ I could take the Dunedin Chamber of Commerce to things, that need its sympathy, and its pilgrimage would have been far more profitable to its members and to the , folk who need their support. It is much easier, to look at swelling success than to find out crying needs. 1 forgot the Minister of Education, and so will close by saying that he seems determined to retain his Nelson -seat, no matter what happens to education as a whole.—-I am, etc.. Crab Apple.