The Timaru Herald. TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 1885.

Timaru Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 3416, 8 September 1885, Page 2

The Timaru Herald. TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 1885.

When the House was m Committee of Supply recently, a rather interesting Schools of the colony. The general impression left on the mind after reading the debate is that these institutions are not quite m such a satisfactory condition as one would like them to be. In the first place, an Industrial School ought to be a place where children are taught not only habits of obedience and good behavior, but also the means of earning an honest livelihood. In New Zealand, however, it would seem that Industrial Schools are so named very much on the lucus a non luccnclo principle. For instance, Mr Fitzberbert, M.H.R., told the House that he visited the Kohimarania Training School last February. He saw 70 or 80 boys there of different ages, some of them being as old as 14 or 15 years. The boys had neither hats nor boots on, and when he asked how that was, the Manager told him that they would not wear them. Mr Fitzhcrbert, not unnaturally, expressed his surprise at such lax discipline, and the Manager said that a number of big boys who came m made the small boys as bad as themselves, and that it was not possible to get them to wear their hats or their boots. A more extraordinary statement coming from the head of such an institution we never beard, and wo have no hesitation m saying that a man who could make such an admission shows himself quite unfit for the position he occupies. All that the Premier had to say m reply to the statement of Mr Fitzberbert was that the children were very healthy despite the absence of boots and hats, and that they were extremely " lively, intelligent and very fond of the sea." As to ■whether tho stale of discipline described by Mr Fitzherbert was precisely what was to be desired iii such an institution Mr Stout did not venture to say, In reference to the " liveliness " of tho children, that might very well go without saying. No doubt the unfortunate Manager is prepared to avouch that they arc a great deal too lively at times. As regards the employment of tho Kohimarama boys, Mr Fitzherbort was informed by tho head of tho school that they had four hours' instruction a day. He was told, however, that there was no training school, and no technical education, and it aeerned that all that tho boys did was to walk about the shore and pick up shells, and of these shells make necklaces. No doubt this pleasing occupation conduced materially to their health and liveliness, but it can hurdly be said to be the beat preparation for tie stem realities of life. The

Government aaked for a voto of £185 for " servants " for these boys, and Mr Fitzherbert very properly declared that such a proposal was " scandalous." Surely, he remarked, these boys were able to cook and wash for themselves. Mr Stont said the boys were taken away ' and apprenticed as soon as they were j able to do any work, but Mr Fitzherbert declared that when he was there two , boats' crews each of sis or seven big » boyß came out, and there were as many ron shore. Mr Turnbull, who visited | the place two years ago, said his experience was confirmatory of what had . been stated by the Hon. Member i for the Hntt. Mr Turnbull struck » the right chord when he said that the colony was overrun with trades, and f suggested that the boys should be ' taught farm work. Mr Ivess agreed f with this suggestion, and pointed out i that there were 400 acres of land at • Burnham, but that it was almost entirely barren. He also said there was r a great want of classification — hardened children sentenced by the tnagis- . trate associating with the other children, i and, of course, contaminating them. ■ Mr Stout, m reply, made out a somewhat better case m regard to this > school than be did m referring to the Kohimarama institution. He stated that as soon as the inmates came to a certain age they were boarded out so as to learn farming and other occupations, and to become respectable citizens. The bigger girls, he said, were taught washing and ironing and other things, and he had seen boys or eight aud nine helping the men m the fields to make • hay. Air Rolleston, m the course of a thoughtful speech, 6poke strongly m favor of the boarding-out system. With regard to the situation of Burnham, he ) did not agree that it was a bad one. The land was not good, but it was fit for planting, which succeeded well, and the children might be taught all the ordinary occupations of country work there until they were of a sufficient age to be removed. He urged the inexpediency of accumulating i large masses of buildings or of grouping large numbers of children together. What was wanted, he said, was to have the children m different houses under the care of persons who could teach them certain trades ; as when children were placed m large numbers m one ' institution, m cases of Bickness, or moral depravity, contamination was probable. It is to be hoped the Government ' will seriously consider the facts which came out m this discussion, with the view of seeing whether some improve- ) ment cannot be effected. It is evident - that the system is far from perfect. There ought, for example, to be a better plan of classification. In England f Industrial Schools are kept quite apart • from Reformatories. To the latter are ' sent children convicted before the Magistrates, while the former are reserved for those who have not been convicted of any crime, but are proper ; Bnbjects to be taken care of by the State. Speaking broadly, they consist of destitute children and children whose parents show that they themselves are not able to control them, but are willing > to become chargeable for their mainL tenance. Some such classification seems equally desirable m New Zea--1 land. While m the schools, the inmates ought certainly to be decently educated, and to receive some sort of industrial training. If the girls could i be turned into good domestic servants, > and the boys into agricultural laborers . and artisans, it would not only be a great blessing for themselves, but for ■ the community at large. At the same . time, the boarding-out system should be used judiciously, and as largely as possible. After the children have received a preliminary training, it is well to place them out m the world, so that '. they may see something of honest home life and get rid of the " Government institution" brand. Care should, however, be taken m selecting custodians for the children, but with this . condition observed, there is no doubt I the plan is likely to be productive of 1 great benefit. A grave responsibility rests upon Government m this matter, , and the public will look to them to give it their most earnest attention.