THE EDUCATION QUESTION.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XVII, Issue 5928, 24 November 1890, Page 2

THE EDUCATION QUESTION.

Sir, —Speaking at Makaraka, Mr Kelly stated in answer to a Question that he was in favor of Pyke's Private Schools Bill, and that he did not think if such a measur c was carried that it would at all injure the present system of edncation. Now, sir, as it is well known, and in fact Mr Pyke made no secret of it, this Bill was intended to give aid to Roman Catholic schools, and surely if such a thing was granted to one body any other denomination claiming the HHine support could not well be refused, and if they did whore, I would ask, would our present system be then. . And now, although sympathising with the Roman Catholics, still I contend they have not much to complain about, as the Government of a country must be on the principle of the greateßb good for the greatest number. And have the Protestants nothing to complain about in the present system? Did they not; agree to foi'ego the reading of the Bible during school hours, so that all denominations could partake equally of the benefits of free, secular, and compulsory education. Some of the advocates of the Private Schools Bill contend that the present system deters private enterprise. Not at all, sir, for under the present Education Act any parent proving to the satisfaction of the local committee that their children are receiving education either at a school or at home, can be exempted from sending their children to the public school. And now, whilst not claiming perfection for our present system, instead of doing anything that will tend in the smallest degree to injure it, let us try and improve it -by sticking to the present system of primary education and endeavor to have the reserves and endowments that are tied up for secondary education made available in the way of substantial scholarships, for assisting deserving scholars who aftsr passing the sixth standard wish to qualify themselves for a profession. And. now, sir, we have two candidates seeking our suffrages at the coming election, one who says he will support a measure that if carried will prove the downfall of our present excellent primary system, the other who promises' that he will oppose any tampering with that system. Now, to which will the working men of this district give their support ? Surely, if they are true to themselves and their posterity, there can' be no question as to how they will vote. This education question is of far greater importance to the working classes than the property tax, land tax, or income tax. The expenses of the country must be paid, and paid from taxes raised either directly or indirectly, and it does not matter from what source derived, it will not make the necessaries of life any cheaper. Let us then resist as far as in our power lies any interference with the only boon (as Mr Kelly put it) the working classes are enjoying from the taxes paid by property, and when we take the ballot paper, draw a line through the name of the man who says distinctly that he will give his assistance to bring us back to the evils of denominational education.— l am, &c, Elector.