The Evening Star. MONDAY, APRIL 18, 1870.

Auckland Star, Volume I, Issue 85, 18 April 1870, Page 2

The Evening Star. MONDAY, APRIL 18, 1870.

We sincerely rejoice at the total change in the programme of the Bagged School Association; and we are sure that the members have breathed a sigh of relief as, according to the custom of the country, they rolled the burden over on the powers that be. We had our fear at first as to the practical results of the movement ; there was an apparent warmth of enthusiasm about its initiation that elsewhere would have seemed healthful, but here it was only the hectic flush of galloping decay. The crisis now is past, and hope for our neglected children lives. To anyone who had not noted the history of public movements in Auckland, there was something in the starting of this Eagged School machinery by the hands of Governor and {Superintendent, driven with twenty-parson-power, that promised wonderful results; but, after all, there ia nothing like the Government for us. Why should people put themselves to the trouble of

•' bothering" about these things ? Does it not come to the same in the end ? The money, in any caße, must

be taken from the pockets of the people, and the Grovernment having tha money-collecting machinery, why should we trotible ourselves with getting collectors and collecting cards, and all the usual accompaniments of voluntary effort? Ifc were a vain waste of physical and moral effort; and it.is the duty'of the -leaders of public opinion to prevent any needless wear and tear of the moral feelings of the people. "Nothing-so contributes to this happy .result as a paternal.': Government—one that happrly inteilpose.s at the proper time and relieves its people from oppressive cares. The offer of the Armed Constabulary to.take a census of our gamins for the Association, was bat reciprocated by the offer, of the Association to transfer the whole business to the Government. Of course^ there is not much connection between a local charity and a penitentiary, but none the less do we rejoice; and we si all be equally pleased if the present movement in favour of a Floating Dock result in the opening of Ohinemuri. We have to thank the projectors of the Ragged School Association at least for drawing public attention to the poor little unfortunates who have come into this world to gaze on its darkest aspects, and who, if left to themselves, will certainly avenge on society the crime of its neglect. The offspring o1 convicts, drunkards, prostitutes, the associates of thieves, and gifted with premature acuteness, these poor little boys and girls can only be rescued from a life of infamy by total seclusion from their present surroundings ; and for such the compulsory education of an Industrial School is necessary ; and instead of regretting the collapse of the Hagged School movement, the sphere for which, in Auckland, waa perhaps questionable, we congratulate our fellow-citizens on the double result—the rescuing from destruction our embryo thieves and prostitutes, and the necessary utilisation of thoße educational grants, the abuse or neg^ct of which has been our greatest ecclesiastical and public scandal.