THE PREMIER AT NAPIER.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1625, 2 August 1887, Page 3

THE PREMIER AT NAPIER.

Napieb. August t. The beat parts of the Premier's address here on Saturdty were his defence of the Tillage settlement, bfs advocacy of encouragement to local industries, and his appeal for their maintenance and extenilon, rather than carl aliment of the education system. Hawkes Bay people have not Imbibed to any extent of the strong drink of protection. Though everyone admits the value of local industries, few •re prepared to admit their necessity — if they spring np naturally like the fern ■nd manuka— well and good. The Premier was applauded while speaking on this subject, but there was not the same enthusiasm shown as when he spoke on the land question. The meeting made the windows rattle at each point on this subject, especially at tbose referring to large holdings and to native lands shark* Ing. Considering the quality of the land, the large holding system is a worse evil In Hawkes Bay than anywhere else probably !n the colony, As to village settlements, he cleverly turned tho tables on the detractor! of the system among the Opposition, by showing that notwithstanding their complaints that Government had Incurred In liabilities £70,000 m excess of what was intended. The Opposition gave their permission to settle 150 more families up to September, which, at th'e sane rate, means a contingency of £15,000 or more. There has for some time past been a growing feeling of dissatisfaction with the management of the Napier High School; The feeling has naturally been extended to the whole high school system, ihe complaint being that the school is on,ly kept np for the rich* and there has been some agitation m the direction of depriving It and all others of all Government assistance. Sir B. Stout's appeal In fay.or of tbe njalntena.uoe of Ihe sy&tem w*s most eloqqent, and must have considerable effect In mollifylug the local ange? against the High, Schools. In tpference to primary eduoatiqo, he showed that the proposal to raise the school age tttyst me.an $he employment of illiterate teachers, or dosing of many sohoois, while {he other proposal to knock off the fifth and ilxth standards will reduce the general educational attainments, which Is not nearly high enough now. He pointed oat what was being done m Scotland and Germany, and said If New Zealanders are not to be htwers of wood and drawers of wAta, It now feeing unfit for anything else, they must be given a good education*