NOTES OF THE DAY

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 296, 10 September 1919, Page 6

NOTES OF THE DAY

Somewhat recklessly Mr. Sejiple, Labour-Socialist M.P., set out a few weeks ago in an endeavour to satisfy the people of Kew Zealand that the Government and the heads of the Railways Department wero liars ov perjurers or something of the kind when they stated that the railway cut was due to tho coal shortage. Up to the present Mr. Skmple himself has cut rather an inglorious figure in this campaign, the facts in support of his contentions apparently having been mislaid or failed to materialise. It is, ot course, not difficult to understand that it must be unpleasant for Mit. Semplb and his friend! to have odium cast on tho miners for tho continuance of the railway cut, and it is natural that some effort should be made by them to minimise the importance of those little nappes ings at the mihes which further reduce tho output of coal. To-day's news, for instance,' of (he shortage for the past week resulting from tho "go-slow" policy must make very unpalatable reading for Mr. Semple as well as for the general public. Mr. Sejiple and his friends will'not like-it because it exposes the hollowness of their professions regarding the attitude of the miner towards the interests.of .the general public, and the general public will not like it because it threatens to prolong the inconvenience and loss caused by the restricted railway service, however, our purpose in referring to this subject was vo direct attention to a letter appearing in this issue from, the late Traffic Superintendent .of South Island Railways, Mr. S. F. Whitcombe. This man retired from the Railway Service a few months ago, and what he has to say on the subject of the coal'shortage and the railway cut generally is particularly interesting in 'the light of Mr. Sejsple's assertions. * * * * The hot-heads of the Returned Soldiers' Association appear to' have carried the ■ more reasonable element off their feet at last nights meeting at the Town Hall. It is not a very difficult thing at such a gathering, where all are financially interested in the decision, to create an atmosphere which encourages tho .belief that only enough noise has to be made to secure whatever may bo demanded. This morning of those who last evening were carried away by the plausible appeals _ of their principal spokesmen will view the demand for a gratuity on tho basis of £150 for each two years of service—proportionately more or less for a longer or shorter period—in a truer perspective. On the basis of calculation up to the present, broadly accepted, this would mean a pay-' itient of something like £15,000,000. This is'nearly three times as much as any responsible person has yet thought of suggesting. Our returned soldiers arc entitled to liberal consideration, and most people are prepared to support any reasonable claims that may be advanced on their behalf. But they must recognise that .there is a. limit, and already the country is committed to many millions of expenditure on their behalf and for thciv benefit, quite apart from any suijjt that may be voted by way of a grailuity;

When the direelois of the New Zealand technical colleges met in conference here a couple of years ago and waiteel as a deputation on tho then- Minister of Education (Mi;. Hanan), tho latter received them, metaphorically speaking,' with open arms. They went away highly satisfied with their receptioa and confident, apparently, that the just claims of technical education were at last about to be met. Indeed, when at that time wo ventured to urgo that the Minister should lose no time in translating promises and professions into action, we were courteously rebuked sy Mn. GiiOitc.ii Gkoiicij, who then as now took a leading part in the conference. It is interesting and iin-tniciiive to add to this slight retrospect the observations'made by Mu. Geohoe Guoiioi: in opening yesterday's conference. On taking his teat, lie stated that this was their third conference, and so far as results were concerned h" had to confess that they had been a waste of time. They had to deal with an unsympathetic Department. Again: He very much regretted that the remits and resolutions passed by the conferences of past years had been treated so lightly. It is

with no desire to indulge in jibes of the "I told you so" order, but rather out of a. keen sense of the vital claims that technical education makes, or ought to make, on public attention that the course of events is thus recalled. In many directions this country has an enormous amount of leeway to make up whereeducational progress is concerned, and in looking to or advocating immediate , action it is difficult at times to distinguish between one need and another. But it is selfevident that in its continued neglect of technical education the Dominion, instead ol effecting a saving, is making a sacrifice it can ill afford. The sacrifice is in tho welfare and efficiency of individuals and in tho factors which make for national efficiency and prosperity.

In New Zealand technical cduca tiou occupies the place of the ugly duckling in an educational system which is hardly at any point as well supported and provided for as it ought to be. This state of affairs is a reproach to tho intelligence ol the Government and people of the Dominion when it is considered that technical education in its full sense is of all forms of education that which is most essential to the intelii-. gent use and development of such resources as the country holds. Some of the worst disabilities imposed on technical colleges were duly emphasised at yesterday's conference. It was,pointed out,' for instance, that they arc at a. .serious disadvantage as regards capitation, and, therefore, in regard to staffing and salaries, as compared with ordinary secondary schools. These facts in themselves ought to rouse an imperative demand for reform. Technical schools and colleges aro essentially those from .which: tho bulk of the people have most to hope for the advancement in life of their children, and they aro bound to tako ,au increasingly important place in the educational system as time goes on. Properly organised they offer a sound general education as well as valuable specialised instruction, and t afford an, excellent approach to a liberal eclucalt'.yii to all who are capable of acquiring it. It is in the technical schools, undoubtedly, that tho continuation classes, the establishment of which will represent the next big forward step in educational progress in this country, will bo located most- advantageously. On all grounds technical education ought to bo liberally fostered and encouraged instead of being neglected and starved.