THE COMING SESSION.

Otago Witness, Issue 361, 30 October 1858, Page 4

THE COMING SESSION.

Ere our pages are again before the public, our Provincial Legislature will have commenced their annual sittings. Some 22 gentlemen, collected from all parts of the Province, without any previous knowledge of the business requiring their attention — without an opportunity of consulting each other or their respective constituents regarding the measures on which they are called to decide, will be called upon to legislate, ar.d will be supposed to have, in the course of a first, second, and third reading, deliberated on some of the most important interests of the Province. In such circumstances, a ten days session may perhaps suffice for what is called ' getting through the work ' of the session ; but we very much doubt whether such hurried legislation will be either creditable to our legislators, satisfactory to the people, or tend towards the promotion of the public good. We fear that such legislation will be but adding further shreds and patches to the patchwork of our existing legislation. To whom the blame of this state of things is attributable, or whether it has arisen from causes beyond human control, it is not our business at present to enquire ; our aim is not to waste time in quarelling over evils past, but to endeavour, so far as we are able, to assist in remedying those evils, by directing the minds of our legislators and of the public, to a few of the most important subjects which must come under the notice of the Provincial Council ; and we do trust, that for one session at least, the closing one of the present Council, the members will lay aside private bickerings and party feuds, and endeavour to do their duty honestly for the advancement of the public interest apart from all other considerations. There are three grand questions which must necessarily engage the attention of the Council, viz. :—: — Education, Immigration, and the means of Communication, both internal and external. All of them are important, but the first is paramount. We may secure an abundant stream of Immigration, we may open up roads and obtain steamers, but if the Educational necessities of the community be not attended to, we shall dearly purchase the elements of material wealth at the cost of the elements of mental and moral poverty. That our existing Educational Ordinance requires amendment, and such amendment as can only be accomplished by a new ordinance, must be apparent to all who have carefully studied its past working. Let those who doubt this try their ability in improving it — they will find they have undertaken the labour of Sisyphus. In the peculiar circumstances of the coming session, we apprehend it would be both un-

wise on the part of the Government and unfair towards the public, to attempt to carry through a new Education ordinance. But it would be at the same time a dereliction of duty were our Government to take no steps towards remedying the defects of the present system. The most satisfactory course appears to us to be, that measures should be taken for eliciting the mind of the Council as to the basis or fundamental principles of a new ordinance, the details and adaptations of which should be embodied in a carefully prepared measure to be laid before a future session. In this way hurried legislation would be avoided, and the public have an opportunity of judging of the essential merits or demerits of the new scheme.

One grand question, we might almost say the grand question, to be solved in regard to our future educational institutions is — from whence are the necessary funds to be derived ? With the demands upon the ordinary revenue for Immigration, Roads, Steam, and other scarcely less important services, it appears to be impossible, out of the ordinary revenue, even under the most economic and careful management, to defray the whole cost of our educational institutions. A special tax for Education appears to be obnoxious to the public, and could only be justifiable in an extreme case, and then only if Education waa rendered compulsory on all. The only other method which appears to be practicable, is that of a contribution from the general revenue in certain fixed proportions, in aid of the contributions of each separate district, for the erection and maintenance of schools and schoolmasters in the district. By this method the general revenue would not be so severely taxed, those districts which did most towards their own assistance would, up to a certain point, be most assisted by the Government, and would thus be stimulated to the greater exertions on their own behalf; whilst, at the same time, one crying evil of the present system, that of an undue multiplication of expensive schools in places where the necessities and exertions of the district bear no proportion to the expense entailed on the public, would be to a great extent prevented. By a provision for the support of less expensively equipped side-schools, in positions where only a small number of scholars could be expected to attend, the cost of the educational establishment would be greatly diminished, whilst its efficiency would remain unimpaired. Under such a system also the management of both schools and school funds might safely be left to a very large extent in the hands of the district committees, and thus the present cumbrous, inefficient, and expensive Education Board, with its ex-officio members, be abolished. And we think we but echo the universal opinion of the public when we maintain, that under any new system, the salaries of the teachers in the district main schools must be raised considerably above their prpsent pittance. To give only £100 ayear to educated men, such as we have brought from Britain, is not only inflicting hardship on our teachers, but entailing disgrace on ourselves. "It was not," as one of themselves remarked to us, " It was not the £100 that induced us to come here ; it was the 10 acres of land." But they now find that * distance lent enchantment to the view ' of their 10 acres, and that the man who hopes to make an addition to his income from his 10 acres must neglect his more important duties. It is further evident that, to secure the efficient working of any educational system, the services of an energetic, well -qualified Inspector must be had. Schoolmasters need stirring up, committees need stirring up, and parents need stirring up, to a proper discharge of their several duties, and we believe that a thoroughly qualified Inspector would be the life of our Education System.

Our* space forbids us at present to do more than indicate what we conceive to be some of the leading points to be kept in view in any amendment of our Education Ordinance ; we may take some other opportunity of entering more into detail — meanwhile, we would only further advert to an idea which was some time ago suggested in connection with our educational arrangements, that of setting apart in each district certain portions of land, to form, in some future time, an endowment for the schools of the district. On this point we are unwilling to express any very decided opinion. Looking to the history of similar endowments in England, we see very grave evils connected with them ; and the view of our Otago church properties dbea .not diminish our objections. Still there are prospective benefits which might accrue to

education from such reserves ; and balancing the possible good against the possible evil, we feel rather inclined to do as probably nine men out of ten would do in similar circumstances, to risk the evils and take the land — that is, if we can get it.

In conclusion, we would desire parents to remember, that, let the action of the Government be what it may in this matter, it cannot absolve or excuse parents from the performance of their duties in toe education of their children. On them the duty of educating primarily and constantly rests ; and he who fails to educate his children, either by taking advantage of the opportunities afforded by Government, or, in the absence of such opportunities, by his own private efforts so far as he is able, is not only acting the part of a cruel and unnatural parent, but also of a bad citizen. No circumstances can justify any parent in allowing his children to grow up in ignorance.