Wanganui Chronicle. AND PAREA-RANGITIKEI ADVERTISER. "NULLA DIES SINE LINEA." MONDAY, APRIL 6, 1891.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XXXIII, Issue 11235, 6 April 1891, Page 2

Wanganui Chronicle. AND PAREA-RANGITIKEI ADVERTISER. "NULLA DIES SINE LINEA." MONDAY, APRIL 6, 1891.

Thk Minister for Education delivered an address of more than ordinary interest at a recent, meeting of tlic Educational Institute of North Canterbury. It was to be expected that, before such a body, and considering the position Mr Hooves now occupies in relation to education, he should have devoted some thought to the subject matter of his address. The audience were expectant, and the honourable gentleman's utterances were accepted, not as the parting words of the retiring president of the Institute (a position Mr Reeves has occupied for the past year), but rather as the official deliverance of the Minister in charge of the Education Department. Mr Reeves' speech is re-assuring. He has evidently no desire' to make changes for the sake of change, or to cripj)le the department over which he has been called to preside merely to obtain a reputation as an economist. So far, he has shown an earnest and laudable desire to grasp the educational necessities of tho colony, and to -find out for himself both the strong nnrl the weak points of the system. He is feeling his way cautiously, and is careful to avoid committing himself with regard to matters on which there is a difference of opinion and in reference to which he has not definitely made np his own mind. From his previous utterances it was not to be expected that ho would

favour any alteration of the school age, or that, aid to' denominational schools would form any part of his programme-; — though it is possible that some might have thought, from the Premier's change of front on this Subject that a change was in prospect. Whatever may be thought of Mr Reeves' adherence to the old programme, he at any rate deserves credit for remaining staunch to his own convictions. We are glad, however, to find that tho Minister is equally firm in resisting the retrenchment cry as applied to tho vote for school buildings. MiReeves has seen a little of the wonderful extension of settlement . 011 this coast, and has been duly impressed by the fact, and he has made lup his "mind that the boards must have whatever is necessary to overtake the erection of school buildings. Not only does Mr Reeves say this,' but he says' further that though the boards have "the right to transfer money from the gencrul fund to the building fund, he would be sorry to see it done to any extent." This is rather a dangerous hint to give the boards. Public bodies are not too prone to save money, and we fear that Mr Reeves will find his hint obeyed' only too readily, and that he will be astonished at the demands — unnecessary demands — that will be made upon him for building purposes. When Sir Robert Stout was Minister, for Education he lulamed. the boards in plain terms for not saving out of this general fund, and issued circulars to them officially instructing them so to do. Notwithstanding the attacks that had been made upon them, Mr Reeves is determined to stand by the boards. Indeed, he cannot' see how the system could be so efficiently managed without them. ' As to the oft-re-peated suggestion to place the Inspectors under the. central department, the Minister is not yet prepared to say that he is ready to fall in with it.