"I WANT A STRAIGHT ANSWER"

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 133, 22 February 1918, Page 6

"I WANT A STRAIGHT ANSWER"

MR, BRANDON AND THE FREEVIACE PUPILS. "Is it a fact that you held that the children from State schools should not be allowed to sit in the Girls' College with the'children of richer men?" was asked Mr. Brandon last evening. Mr. Brandon set out that originally thoy had an education system, and on to that system another one had been grafted.. When ho was .chairman of the College Governors, Mr. Seddon had brought down a scheme for the College and High School to take in free-place pupils. In the first .place* they had no room, and until they built accommodation they could mot take them. After several years the Minister of Educatiun came along to the Board of Governors and said: "We'll give you £10,000 to .put up a building if you take the free-place pupils," and we got the building for the accommodation of those pupils who were sent by the Government, but they were sent in at a lower rato than was paid by the paving pupils. Voices: "Well, why not?" "Good gracious!" "Dear mo!" Mr: Brandon said that tho_ question was not pertinent to the election. "We should," "he said, "devote all our energies and thought to winning the war. My opinions on secondarv education have nothing to do with the issue, at stake, but to-day I am prepared to subordinate my views, aifd to say that there should be no expensive legislation, no more charges on the community, save to win the war. What is the use of educating a hundred children to be Chief Justice when there can be (inly one?

The questioner: I wanted a straight answer—yes or no! ■

"And I," said Mr. Brandon hotly, '.'did not wish to be misunderstood. I do object io nionev being' scent on giving a hulf-and-half education to a lot of children. I nrejer to give lars». scholarships to individuals who proved to be exceptional. Yon educate a hundred and spoil the earners of ninetynine—hut the question. I maintain, is subordinate to winning the war!"