THE QUESTION OF EDUCATION.

New Zealand Graphic, 27 June 1906, Page 39

THE QUESTION OF EDUCATION.

The Premier went on to say that he was not satisfied that in cur publie schools to-day tbe existing curriculum was what was required. He was afraid that there was time lost—valuable time, which ought to be spent in other ways, and that the curriculum required to go under review. Then, in respect to endowments, lie pointed out that farseeing statesmen of the past had given large grants of land for educational purposes, ami he asked who were receiving the advantage of these endowments to-day? lie regretted that some portions had been rot aside for primary education; he would rather have seen the cost of primary education kept upon the people. This was all that the masses of the country got for the large sums that they paid in the shape of indirect taxation. (Hear, hear.) Visiting some of the secondary schools, he bad found children there of eight, nine, and ten years who could not pass the third standard. He was told that their parent* paid the fees: but as half the amount involved came from those endowments, it followed that they were using these endowments for the education of children of tender years. The land had teen set apart for the education of the people, and it. ought to be available for that. This matter required to be carefully gone into, and the moneys received from these endowments ought to be expended, not for the lienelit of a select few, but for the advantage of the children of New Zealand. (Applause.) He would like to sec the most brainy boys and girls whose parents were not richly endowed With this world's goods brought from the publie schools to the high schools, and from the high schools to the university. He would be asked, Did not scholarships do this? and his answer was. No. It often happened that boys and girls, owing to the ..position of- their parents, were unable to remain at the schools beyond the fifth standard. He and others in that audience had met boys and girls head and .shoulders above their fellows taking all before them as far as the -fifth standard, and-then the-circumstances of-their parents came in. and they had to go to work. There ought to be a condition of things obtaining which would enable t.he.se boys and girls to go on to the sixth-standard, and from that point to the high school. It ought not to be a question of fees; they ought to be in the high school, and have their board and lodging paid. (Applause.) Let this be paid out of the lands of the people, which had been set. apart for that purpose. Upon education the great future of this colony depended. If we were to fight against other nations, we must have these educational facilities. Let them not forget that the safety of the democracy, the safety of our country, depended iqron the education of the young. (Applause.) We must, he claimed, remove some of the difficulties new existing, and go on in the path so well marked out for us by the statesmen of the past. It had been sard that he had no constructive ability. He claimed nothing; bat he could, at all events, reasonably say that they had heard of progressive legislation which had been foreshadowed in the past, but had never found its way on to the Statute Book, and he could claim that during his ten years of office what ho and his party had advocated had become Jaw.and there had -been laws pAssnd fan ths good of the people which had nob been dreamed of in tiroi hfgtiest flights of

fancy by the staieMnen of the past. There had also been questions of Imperial importance dealt with. Some had said, Let Mr. Seddon meet the statesmen of the Empire, and then you will realise what a poor representative you have sent. (Ta-ughter.) it was not for him to express an opinion; but when the time came that the history of this country was to be written, all he asked was that the credit should be given to the people—to those in Parliament, and to his colleagues who, during the last ten years, had helped to place these laws upon the Statute Book of this country. (Applause.) After a reference to the South African'war, and the part which the New Zealand soldiers had played in that conflict, Mr. Seddon assured his audience that while he had health and strength he would continue to do liis best for the people of this colony. He impressed upon them the importance of a true humanity, the true happiness of those around them, and said that the Liberal party would continue to be actuated by the desire to do what was best in the interests of the people of this country. (Loud and prolonged cheering.) Mr. Quick formally put the resolution to the meeting, which adopted the same by acclamation, the vast audience, accompanied by the band, striking up the timehonoured tune, “For He’s a Jolly Good Fellow! ” Three cheers were given for Mr. Seddon, and three for Mrs. Seddon. Mr. Seddon then moved votes of thanks to Mr. Quick for presiding at the meeting, and to the committee which managed so well the function. Mr. Quick returned thanks on behalf of the committee and himself. The strains of “ God Save the King ” by the band brought the vast audience to its feet, the National Anthem being sung with great spirit by all present, and with the loyal refrain in their ears, the great gathering slowly dispersed, many remaining behind for a few minutes to tender their personal congratulations to the Right Hon. the Premier.