THE HON. G. FOWLDS.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 120, 13 February 1908, Page 7

THE HON. G. FOWLDS.

-.y . ; y. SPEECH AT DANNEVIRKE. . (BI TiIEGBAPn—ntESS ASSOCIATION.). DannevirkOj February 12. . The Hon. G. Fowlds,'Minister for Education, delivered'a political address at Dannevirko to-night: The' Mayor presided, and thoro was a fair attendance of olectors. ' Mr: Fowlds doalt mainly -with tho departments under his direct control. Dealing' with education, lie said the. increase in expenditure was alarming, but ho boliovod it was tho best 'investment tho country could have. : In 1901, • the expenditure Was £578,595, and this'had risen to, £923,572 at .'present., Tho ideal of the | education systoin . was to provide free education from tho primary scliool to the university. He advocated better payment of country teachers, and properly.'classified system of promotion. Ho foreshadowed an improvement' in tho Hospital and Charitable Aid Act, and in tho, law regarding montal hospitals. Ho commended the Premier's romarks regarding tho attitudo' of tho Government towards revolutionary Socialism. Tho securing of equal opportunities for all was a splendid ideal, to have before any Government. No man had a right to more.than equal opportunity, and no niari had a right to put up with less. ' There should bo no granting of-.'special-privileges-.to any man, unless no paid annually tho valuo of tho privilege hold. Ho claimed that tho Native Land Bill, was an honest attomnt to settlo tho Native land problem. ' Ho" anticipated that the system of annuities would in timo relieve the old ago ponsion expenditure, and provide the old..with, tho means of securing an independence. Tho mention of a special grant of £200,000 per annum for roads was received with applause. ! A hearty voto of thanks to Mr. and continued! confidence in the Government, was carried with applause. ; ,'