THE INTERESTS OF WORKING MEN.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5991, 28 July 1887, Page 3

THE INTERESTS OF WORKING MEN.

The Premier's Speech at Auckland. Our National Education System. '[Special to the "Star."] AUCKLAND, July 23. The Star, in dealing with the Premier's address, says :— The cordial reception accorded to the Premier must have afforded Sir Robert a very gratifying assurance that he has in this part of the Colony many sincere personal and political friends. There is* indeed, no statesman in Now Zealand who has greater capacity or wider opportunities for rendering his country good service.

The most pronounced of his opponents williugly acknowledged not only his ability, but his conspicuous efforts on behalf of liberal legislation in Now Zealand. His visit to Auckland on the present occasion will have conferred a boon iipon the people of this city and the country at large, it 1 it is the means of imparting to the electors some of the Premier's own zeal in the cauEe of

NATtWNAb EDDCATION. The paramount importance of this Education question fully warranted the large space which it filled in the Premier's address. Ministers prolific with promises may come and go, their nostrums for reviving prosperity dying with them. The only guarantee of future good government and greatness lies in au educated populace, and whon we hear candidates professedly speaking in

THE INTERESTS OF WORKING SIEN, talking about shutting the doors of the public schools against their children, and leaving them in the gutters if they are under seven, and refusiug them education if through misfortune or early struggles they have been unable to obtain it before they are fourteen, and closing the doors of the higher educational institutions against them altogether, it is time that some one man who has himself found the pathway to the highest distinction should stand forth, and proclaim in a voice of tb under, " I would rather sink into obscurity than " see this great wrong done to the people " of New Zealand." >

Sir Robert Stout proved from undeniable authorities, what we have shown over and over again, that New Zealand is

NOT PAYING MOKE, BDT LESS, than other Colonies for Education, that our system of local control is a distinct advantage to the administration, both in matters of economy and efficiency. We hope, after this, that we shall hear no more about reducing the educational advantages which the Colony now enjoys. The Premier's

DEFENCE OF THE VILLAGE SETTLEMENT SCHEME

was hardly necessary Detore an Auckland audience. Every man whose opinion is worth having will admit that when there is a surplus population to find employment for, it is better to settle theui permanently upon the laud.