Rangitikei Advocate. TWO EDITIONS DAILY. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 11. EDITORIAL NOTES.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXVII, Issue 10525, 11 December 1912, Page 4

Rangitikei Advocate. TWO EDITIONS DAILY. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 11. EDITORIAL NOTES.

IT is difficult to devise any means by which true public opinion can bo accurately ascertained. Even a general election does not. necessarily indicate public opinion because, as a rule, numerous side issues affect the voting and the main questions are frequently regarded as subsidiary by the electors, while also sometimes questions which have no connection with politics, and even private feeling, affect the result. Possibly the worst of all methods of ascertaining public opinion is by means of a plebiscite, because it then becomes possible for irresponsible persons who have an object in view to use private and specious arguments to influence the voters. And, mest decidedly the last thing on which a plebiscite should be taken is a question alfecting the conscience or religous opinions of the people. If such were permitted, and taken as a

guide by those administering the affairs of the State then, in this free country, we might reach a stage of religious intolerance and persecution such as those which disgraced the dark ages. At the present time, no doubt with the best intentions, certain good people are making a vigorous attempt to destroy the secular character of our education system, and it is necessary in the interests of liberty of thought that this should be strenuously resisted by all free men and women. The State has undertaken the work of education, and it is necessary that in this the State shall not be trammelled by dogma or creed. The Jew, the Trinitarian, even the Mormon or the Agnostic, has equal right to the education supplied by the State, for all are taxpayers and each has qeual right to insist that his form of religious belief shall not be insulted or endangered by any teaching in the State schools. If, like a very large section of the community, he and his co-religionists believe that religion should be taught in the schools, and that only his form is the true one, there is nothing to prevent him if he chooses, paying for schools of his own, though as his children are also members of the State, these schools should be open to inspection by the State offlcialsJ;o guarantee that the scholars shall receive proper instruction. But, until the various sects, as well as those of no sect, can agree as to a series of moral lessons to be given in the schools our present system of secular education should remain intact. If we are to judge by results where other systems are in force, the New Zealand system is best, and in proof of this one has only to compare the fcriminal statistics of say New South Wales, with those of our own country. In the opinion of all save a few enthusiastic [sectarians, those who attack the secular nature of the New Zealand [system of education are impiously flaying hands on this country’s ark of the covenant.

WE commend to the attention of farmers a letter published in this issue from Mr G. L. Marshall, Chairman of Marton Branch of the Farmers’ Union. Though all farmers should be members of the Union, and subscribe liberally to its funds, because it can watch over, 'protect, and if need be defend their interests, even if they are not members they are interested in Mr Marshall’s subject. The regular slaughtermen are, apparently, not satisfied with the high wages they earn, but that is no reason why the great branch of the farming industry they serve should bceome subject to extortionate demands, and the remedy Mr Marshall suggests would prove an effective one and could be easily applied. After the experience of Waihi it is certain that the Government would see to the preservation of law and order, and there are numbers of young farmers who, in an emergency, would willingly volunteer to prevent the industry being paralysed.