An Attack Upon Higher Education.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5134, 16 October 1884, Page 2

An Attack Upon Higher Education.

There stands upon the Order Paper to-day the following notice of motion, in the name of Mr J. G. Wilson— " That in the opinion of this House, it is advisable that all assistance towards higher educacation from the Consolidated Revenue should cease, and that notice be given to different institutions which derive any part of their income from the revenue from reserves set apart for higher education, that next year one-tenth of that revenue will be allocated to primary education ; the second year, a further one-tenth, and so on, till the whole is allocated for that purpose." I understand from the mover that he has little hope of carrying his motion, and, indeed, it is rather hard to understand what he expects to effect by it. He does not appear quite to have calculated the scope of his reform in the case of the Canterbury College, against which, as against University education generally, he professes to harbour no particular animosity. His motion is directed chiefly against the High Schools, which, as a County member, he declares should not be suffered longer to exist. They exist simply and solely, according to Mr Wilson, for the benefit of the large towns, and take away money which would otherwise be spent to greater advantage in primary education in the country, where it is so urgently needed. We shall, I presume, have a further exposition of his views when the motion is called on in the House.