Western Star. AND WALLACE COUNTY GAZETTE PUBLISHED Evert Tuesday and Friday FRIDAY, AUGUST 16, 1912. LAND SETTLEMENT.

Western Star, 16 August 1912, Page 2

Western Star. AND WALLACE COUNTY GAZETTE PUBLISHED Evert Tuesday and Friday FRIDAY, AUGUST 16, 1912. LAND SETTLEMENT.

During the year ended March last seventy-five thousand acres of Crowuj land were taken up in Southland under various tenures, and the gross lanclj revenue received from all sources was £50,664. The number of settlers who have taken up holdings on estates in this district, acquired under the Land for Settlement Act, is:—Beaumont 11, Ermedale 13, Merrivale 49, Otahu 6j, and Ringway 8. The number of Crown tenants in Southland increased by 756, and the total area held by ah* tenants is 2,170,365 acres. The Large increase is mainly owing, to the taking over of the late School Commissioners' leases, there being 722 such tenants, holding 318,745 acres, with an annual rent of £12,855. Under the heading " Land* sold for Cash," the area purchased from the Grown shows a decrease of 918 acre*, but the revenue received was £1,216 greater than last year Under the occupation with right to purchase system the selections show a decrease of 5,900 acres as compared with the previous year. The total number of holdings has been increased by seventeen, but the area held is 3,773 acres less than last year, owing to the freehold acquired exceeding the area selected. The increase in annual rent payable was £4B. The freeholds acquired during the year show an increase of 6,748 acres over last rear's purchases. Under the renewable "lease system the area selected during the year was 585 acres more than last year. The total number of holdings has been increased from 93 to 123, the area held from 8,969 to 12,599 acres, an<i the annual rent payable from £360 to £5lB. Under the perpetual lease tenure only seven tenants exercised their right to acquiro the 'freehold, while sixteen tenants did likewise under the lease-in-per-petuity system. Taking the settlements as a whole, it may be said that the conditions of lease are very well carried out, there being only a few defaulters ; and the settlers now appear to be in a very satisfactory position in every way. The required amount of improvements is £60,477, and the value actually made is £01,477. Education Tin- report of the Education System. Commission has been presented to Parliament, and just now all, sorts and conditions of people are expressing opinions upon it. Several of the recommendations will not find favour in Parliament any more than they did with the minority of the Commission; but this much may be said, the report has} shown the way to save some thousands of pounds, and to improve the efficiouey

of education and the status of the; teachers. The whole system of education has received a thorough, overhaul, and Parliament has now .something to work upon. It goes without saying that Parliament will not accept all the recommendations, but the essential ones are sure to find acceptance, it being recognised that the educational system is full of anomalies. While agreeing with a large number of the Commission's, recommendations, there are others with which we entirely disagree. For instance, an advisory council of fifteen is altogether too large, and apart from that, as the recommendation is that the council should bo advisory and not administrative, there is no reason why the Parliamentary Education Committee, composed of members of Parliament who take an interest in. education, shoidd not act in that capacity. No council could surpass that committee either in personnel or knowledge, and it has the further advantage of being elected directly by the- people. Regarding the Commission's recommendation with reference <to the constitution of Boards, we think the system recommended is too cumbrous, and, what is more, too expensive. This much may be said, however, that in recommending the reduction of Boards to five, the Commission reported against parochialism, and suggested a way to bring about a truie nationalisation of the system. A.t present it is not national, with the result that the teaching profession, without any prizes, does not attract men of outn standing ability, Men may start with the intention of going on, but are soon attracted to other spheres by the larger emoluments offered. The Commission recommended a Council of Education,five Education Boards, School Boards for every four thousand of population, enlarged school districts, and Commissioners for districts where there wa6 only one school. The scheme is faulty and too expensive, and we feel sure will not find favour with Parliament. the same time it will bring about a much-needed reform, and remove the reproach now existing, that country, children are taught principally by teachers who have had no training. From what the Government has said, the Commission's report will not be discussed until next year. By that time ah interested will have had time to review the evidence, form their own opinions, and offer suggestions. DEBAIEABLE SUBJECTS..

Last week Parliament discussed two Bills introduced by private members. These, it may be said, are often introduced to give the Government a lead. They show how members will vote, and as those who hold Ministerial rank are always anxious to hold on, tiiey generally adopt a course that will rope in the ambitious but patriotic and conscientious members. Such is party politics! Mr Laurenson's Bill, providing for the election of the ministers by a vote of Parliament was lost by one vote. Such a measure received the largest vote ever given, and it shows most unmistakably that the trend is to an elective Ministry in order to secure pure administration The measure, once so hotly condemned by partisans whose eyes were on the spoils, is now within reasonable distance of being passed, and electors should make every candidate pledge himself to this, the reform of all reforms. The other private Bill was one by the member for Cluitha to alter the majority required to cany either local or national pk-ohi(-bition. He proposed fifty per cent, for both issues, but as many members were pledged to 55 per cent for national and 60 per cent, for locali, the measure was lost by a large majority. Stomo members who spoke during .the disicussion on the Bill suggested that the existing system under which alcoholicliquors are sold should be subjected to considerable alteration. In all probability it might be found that this view is supported by a large number of electors, but it unfortunately happens that the whole controversy regarding the sale of liquor has been confined to two questions—Whether liquor should bo abolished entirely, or whether its sale should be continued under the present method. People who disapprove the last of these proposals and yet are unable to accept the first are left on the/.,horns of a dil-j emma. Some vote continuance, although quite prepared to sanction a change. Others vote prohibition, not because they want it, but merely as a protest against the existing system. Those who believe in State or Municipal control, those who would abolish the bar but not prohibit, those who favour restricting the consumption of alcohol to the lighter kinds of beer and wine have no opportunity of being heard. The issue is kept within the four corners of the single question: Shall the open bar or prohibition prevail That this is irrational hardly appears to ua to permit of argument. The appeal is merely from one set of partisans to another. The coils of intemperance can hardly be exaggerated, but they are much greater than would spring from forcing upon a people the iron rule of prohibition, decided by a vote which denies the community the right of free choice. There is not free choice when every alternative to the bar on one side and prohibition on the other is withheld. That being so, and the necessity for ensuring stability, make the retention of a substantial—not a. bare—majority a proper precaution against the effects of a swinging pendulum.