MR. FRASER AND EDUCATION

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 7, 3 October 1918, Page 8

MR. FRASER AND EDUCATION

Tlie New Zealand Educational Institute hag submitted the following list of questions to the official Labour candidate, Mr. P. Fr'aser:—(l) Are you prepared to pledge yourself unreservedly to the support and maintenance of the present system of free, eecular, and compulsory education? (2) Aro you prepared to actively oppose any proposals that might tend towards the disruption of. the national education system ? (3) "Will you promise to vote against the payment of any public funds on any account to private schools, primary or secondary, or in respect of any pupils attending such schools? (■!) Will you by your, vote and influence assist in improving and extending the educational system? Mr. Fraser, at his meeting at Aro Street on Tuesday read out the following reply, which has been forwarded to the institute:— In reply to the institute's question I have to state that plank 4 in the Labour Party's platform to which I am pledged reads: (a) Free,. secular,. and compulsory education from the kindergarten to the university.' (b) Uniform school books printed by the Government and supplied- free of cost, (c) The replacement of all military instruction in schools by constructive education in human thoughts. In accordance with that plank my replies to your questions aro as. follow:—No. 1: Yos. No. 2: Yes. No. 3: The answer to this quostion depends upon the interpretation placed on the words "on any account." For instance, Inn in favour of ifree medical and dental attention to all children attending all schools. My vote on this, aa on every other question, will be cast in accordance with the decisions of the Labour Party in conference or in caucus assembled. The party is opposed to anything in tho nature of the endowment of private schools by public money. No. 4: Certainly, with all my heart and energy. I approve of Professor Hunter's demand tor the amount of £ 0,000,000 to revolutionise tho educational system.