The Waikato Times. "OMNR SOLUM FORTI PATRIA." THURSDAY, AUGUST 1, 1872.

Waikato Times, Volume I, Issue 40, 1 August 1872, Page 2

The Waikato Times. "OMNR SOLUM FORTI PATRIA." THURSDAY, AUGUST 1, 1872.

Til kimo is little probability of an. Education liill, in imv form, passing the House, this session. M r. Fox has pretty clearly intimated Mint ho will not introduce his Hill unless the opinion of the House is previously expressed jis to whether the system should be denorailuitioiiu) or secular, or a little of both. There is very little anxiety displayed by members to have the education -question, dealt with. This is by no means creditable to our representatives. They are returned to the House to represent the opinions and carry out the views of their constituents, and there is certainly no question likely to come- before Parliament; this session in which the public have tiikcn so lively an inierest. Every thinkin i> , man in the country is keenly alivo to the fact that unless some ellicient means is adopted to educate the rising general ion, much (rouble is in store for this colony when our children have grown up in their ignorance, and in consequence are incapable of takingtin intelligent part in public affairs.. An 'Un : educated population n\ a free country is; more dangerous than in those where the peoplo-are not "admitted to any share in the government, of themselves. Most of. us have seen how easily mi uneducated mob is led by any man possessed of the gift of language, no matter how atrociously absurd the opinions he enunciates. The government of the United States, from this cause, is practically in the hands of a few cliques, although nominally in those , , of the people. It is a pity that those who advocate the granting of public money for- the support of denominational schools- cannot be brought ta understand- that they are actually defeating , their own object—the religions instruction of our children. If denominational schools receive a grant,.it is clear that there cannot possiby be sufficient funds available- to provide efficient masters or schools for more than a section, of" the population. Large numbers in conseq.ueuce will M'row up in utter ignorance, and unsusceptible to any religions instruction. have no state religion in the colonies, all denomina- ; ions are on an equal footing. To this fact, no doubt, is owing the presence of many usei'il men. All contribute alike to the. revenne, nil therefore should participate to the full in lie advantages which arise from its appli-i-.ition. .This would not be the case if the :. Ivocates of denojmnational education, suei .vded in gaining their ends. The majority \. :uld have all and; the minority nothing, v 'lereas, if only one; Jew or Mahomedau ras 'ed in a district, by all the laws of justice t = ~ would be entitled to lais-share of the Education Grant. His grfev&nee wonld be , very

Hirnilar to that which, until lately, was suf" | fercd by a section of the* 'Irish people. Aj man h&A no rno.-e right fco pay for the in- J •Ktrnction of otlict people's children in a religion | In which-ho does not believe, than the Icjsb people had to support a church in* which they did not worship. ,We are corjjßdeufc that out of- the House there is a ? very largo- majority in favour of a pmelf secular s>stem. We feel tolerably confident j that the educational question will be- neg- j lected until public opinion is by j meetings, petiticms, svnd the representatives : of the different constituencies are assured that unless they represent fcheir opinions it will be useless r.o present themselves again. The people must be ap and doing. WhiK: <mr representatives are shirking their duty our children are growing up in ignorance.