THE Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi. MONDAY, APRIL 7, 1879.

Thames Star, Volume X, Issue 3162, 7 April 1879, Page 2

THE Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi. MONDAY, APRIL 7, 1879.

We are not surprised that our Auckland contemporaries have found fault with Dr Wallis and his views upon Educational matters. It was evident from the report of Dr Wallis' speech when addressing his constituents in the Auckland Mechanics' Institute, that while a great deal of the address was upon thesubject of Education, very little information was to be gathered from it as to the real views of the speaker upon the question. Dr Wallia seems to have a peculiarity of being able to say a good deal, and in such a way as not to commit himself in his remarks—a trait very often of service to the lawyer, but not appreciated in gentlemen of the learned Doctor's cloth. His constituents in Auckland City West were evidently not satisfied with the Doctor's enunciation of his views at the Mechanics' Institute, and a deputation, headed by Mr C. J. Firth, waited upon him on Wednesday evening for the purpose of getting a distiact statement of their representative's views upon the Education and other questions. From the report of the interview, the doctor enlightened his audience but very little upon his real views, but proved himself an adept in debate. Every statement made by him, which might be by itself considered a direct declaration of opinion, was so qualified by some more general expression that it was almost impossible to decide what interpretation to put upon it, and the whole interview must have left upon the minds of the deputation the impression that the speaker's real views were not such as he wished known. However, with all his tact, Dr Wallis has laid himself open to attack, and has given ground for a confirmation of the geneial opinion that he is not a staunch supporter of the present Education Act, either in its principles or its working. Ho stated to the deputation that in order to correct the prevailing; misrepresentation and misapprehension of,

his views he wished to make the following statement: —

I. No Government is justified n excluding by law the Bible from public school-'. I intend, whenever I have an opportunity, to speak and rote agninsl: such exclusion. My opinions on this subjocfc woro well known to the electors of City West when I was chosen in 1K77 to represent them, and I feel oonfident that the electors are not so unreasonable as to expect me to abandon my lonpj-cherishod and deepest convictions. In the session of our ParlLmout, 1877, I contended against* the exclusion of the Bible; indeed, 1 was conspicuous or notorious for my opposiiion to this exclusion, and at the end of that session I received an unanimous vote of confidence from the constituency of Auckland City West.

11. I am of opinion that people have a grievance in being compelled to pay, directly or indirectly for the x'ree or gratuitous education of other people's children iv schools to which they cannot send their own cbildror. The national or colonial system of education now established here ought to be enlarged, and to be made broad-based enough to include all the children of tho colony, whatever raay bo tho religious opinions of their parents. No child should be deprived of the ireans of a sound education on iccount of his being connected with, this or that religious persuasion. 111. When a decided mnjorily of a constituency has shown (as the electors of City West did on a late occasion) that they disapproved of a particular bill, tho representative of such n constituency ought nob to vote for such a bill; but if he comes to approve of any of the principles implied in the bill, he is justified in doing his utmost i • convince his constituents of lhe;r error, and to prove to them and tbo community at large the soundness of thc3e principles, A lepresenfciitive ought to respect und to defer largely to the wishes of his constituent?, but he is not a mere delegate, bound to adopt the latest fashion in politic?, or bound to comply with fhe momentary piopensitiea of his constituents at the expense or sacrifice of their true and permanent interests.

IV. Mr Curtis'o Bill, when the second reading of it was proposed last; session, seemed ro me good in bo far as it would relieve wounded consciences, anci deprived the Slate of a monopoly of education, and give some variety to our educai!onsl e.ystem. The paid bill, the second reading of which I voted-for, was objectionable in many respee's. When addressing the House on the second rea ling, as you will see in Hansard. I virtually said ray vote depended on the opinions of my constituents. I have no intention, if tho bill is brought forward next session, to vole for it. I hope to be able to embody tho good points of it in an Education Ueform Bill, which 1 will endeavor to bring into the House next session •

V. I heai-lily accept the system of education at prcent eatablished here; and, if I can find opportunity, I sha.l endeavour to reform and liberalise it in such, directions aB the following :—l. Decentralisation^* 2. Reduction of the number of inspectoral districts. 3. Dimunition of coat of education, and limiting gratuitous or charity education to the really poor. 4* The non-exclusion of the Bible. 5. The appointment cf teachers by local committees, or the people of the school districts. 6. The prevention of an injurious State-moDopoly of education, by accepting piivate adventure and other schools as auxiliaries in tho work of education ; or by instituting more schools on the principle of the Auckland Girl's High School, or by any other means suggested by reason and experience.

Any careful reader of the above may see the doctor's traits, the mode he has of treating his subjects, and cannot'but gather that he is not to be depended upon to oppose Curtis' Bill, or another of somewhat similar principles were such to come before the House. In statement number two he is of opinion that people have a grievance in'being made to pay for the education of other people's children, and then goes on to say the present system ought to be enlarged and made broadbased enough to include all the children in the colony—in effect ought to be de. norninational. Th'itis the broad basis he would like, for he says furllier no child should be deprived of the means of a sound education on account of his religious persuasion, and of course we know some are deprived, or rather won't take ad vantage.of the present system because of their religious convictions. Can any inference be plainer than that to be gathered from such a statement, that Dr Wallis is a denominationalisfc, and yet has not the honesty to say so. There are other points in Dr Wallis' statements that call for comment, but the consideration of which we will leavo till another occasion.