A CURIOUS STATE OF THINGS.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XIII, Issue 35, 25 December 1885, Page 15

A CURIOUS STATE OF THINGS.

fAJOR ATKINSON and Sir Julius Vogel do not seem to differ as to the necessity of a spirited public works policy and of further borrowing. Nor does there appear to be much difference between them on any essential point. Why, therefore, they should head different parties, it is not easy to see. But so it is. The Major it in straits. Ilis convictions and the requirements of his party are, as it appears to us, in conflict. We really cannot see that there is any substantial difference between him and bir Julius, nevertheless it is evident that the Major wishes to make it appear that there is. We cannot see it, and we think the public labour under the same inability. If the Major really wishes, as no doubt he does, to convince the people of New Zealand that his views on public works an : borrowing differ from those of Sir Julius it will be necessary for him to deliver another speech explanatory of his Hawera oration. There is no use in shrieking against additional taxation. Sir Julius says there need be nothing of the 6ort, and in this we are thoroughly in accord with him. The expenses of Government, general and local, are a great deal more than they ought to be. There are, first of all, too many members of Parliament ; in the second place, too many local boards, all having a pull for the cost of administration at the pockets of the race-payers. What necessity, for example, for 40 men in one district to look after charitably aid ? What necessity for such a multitude of School Boards and committees and paid secretaries, and free railway travelling and all the rest of it ? Would not one Board in each county suffice for all puipos^s ? uur opinion is that the country is being bled to death by excessive Government, legislation, and administration. In a little time, if this sort of thing is to continue, every n an in thecountiy will be either a School Board man, or a me über of a School Committee, Muncipal Council, County Council, Charitable Aid Board, or Member of Parliament. Were there not a a species of tragedy in the business, the whole thing would be too ludicrous for serious comment. But the fact is, the country is being governed to death, r conomy is wanted, but not the economy that is always had recourse to viz., cutting down the salaries of civil servants. They are not overpaid, bat th<Te are too niamy officers, including, of

course, Members of Parliament, etc., etc. Then, what about the enormous and unnecessary vote for education ? Experience teaches that the plentiful endowment of schools is not the best means of promoting education. Let those who doubt this, read the various reports of the commissioners appointed »o investigate the state, financial and literary, of intermediate education in England and Ireland. From these it will be seen that robbery and plunder rather than efficiency in teaching, were promoted by lavish endowments. It is no doubt the doty of the State to help education ; but he mast be blind, indeed, who fails to see that in this country the State is doing more mischief than good by its policy in reference to education. Certainly, one-half the amount now spent on schools could be made to suffice for all educational purposes, if men would only adopt a wise and jast coarse on this question. We have no doubt that Sir Julius Voobl, were he not afraid of the popular vote, would soon devise a means of settling this vexed question to the satisfaction of all, particularly of the workingman, who is now without employment through an extravagant school expenditure, and even from this expenditure derives relatively less advantage than those who are well-to-do. It is for the working man to look to it. He has the power in his hands, and if he will only open his eyes wide enough and divest himself of prejudice, he can easily put an end to the present depression. No additional taxation will be necessary. Let the vote for education be cut down to one-half its present amount, a wise system of schools established, and then the Government can raise a loan of from five to six millions sterling for reproductive public works. Cannot the people of the country do what the poor Catholics are doing,— exert themselves to provide education for their own children ? It is their doty to do this, and it is not at all creditable to them to shove off their obligations on to the shoulders of the tax payer. The work, too, would be done better if people paid directly for the education of their children. The Government has already done more than it ought to have done, and now that so many fine schools have been built and so many reserves made for educational purposes, it certainly is not too much to expect people who have means, to bear themselves the burden of paying directly for the maintenance of these schools and their teachers. Were this done, our present depression would soon disappear. Three millions sterling at least have been spent on our present system of education, and has not the greater part of tbis been borrowed meney ? Borrowed money I is it not a shame that a well-to-do people should so demean themselves as to borrow money to educate their children, particularly whilst the workingman is walking idly about in want of work ?