The Daily Telegraph. TUESDAY, OCTOBER 23, 1883.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3828, 23 October 1883, Page 2

The Daily Telegraph. TUESDAY, OCTOBER 23, 1883.

Wiikn the Appropriation Bill last session was before the Legislative Council the Hon. Mr Holmes drew attention to the increasing costliness of the educational system. Mr Holmes explained that the term "system " as used by him included tho ordinary schools, the secondary schools, and the colleges and universities. The average cost per scholar in 1882-3 i?i the ordinary schools was JIM 3s an increase of 5s o.yd on the previous year. The cost lias been increasing from year to year till last year tho total outlay amounted to £531,973. Mr Holmes calculated that the whole of this expenditure was expended in favor of GO,OOO families. Looking at it from a taxation point of view tho yearly outlay on education is equivalent to 2d in tho pound on the aggregate property of the colony, or close upon it; that is to say, the property of tho colony is valued at seventy-five millions for the property tax, and tho cost of education amounts to dose on 2d in the pound on that sum. The Hon. Mr Lahmann, while lie thought tho whole community would cheerfully pay a certain amount for primary education, was of opinion that something was wrung in the administration, something utterly wrong when a larger sum was spent on secondary than on primary education. It was tho wealthier classes only who participated in this higher education. He maintained that those wealthier classes arc bound to pay tho full amount for tho education of their children. Tho Hon. Dr. Grace followed, and is thus reported in Hansard: — " I say at once there is no man more interested in the education of the people of the colony than I am—and I am not in the habit of saying anything I do not moan— but there is no man who despises shams more than I do. I say our educational system is an expensive sham. It is a system of forcing small children up to standards which their intelligence cannot naturally reach. The result is that you cramp the natural intellectual development of the children, and their physical development in addition; and you will find in a few years that the intellectual result is very small. Tho very first practical thing to do in regard to education is this : to abselutely refuse the capitation allowance on account of children under the age, say, of seven years: and that is low enough, as has been proved over and over again. If the State will refuse to allow capitation until tho children have reached a reasonable age, that will effect a great saving at once. The next thing to do—and I say this in the interest of the children, as a man who knows something about them, and has great sympathy both -with children and with their parents—is to do away with tho absurd standards, which arc maintained in the interest of the department alone. Sir, it is perfectly impossible to cram a stipulated amount of knowledge into an average number of children within a limited time in order to suit the department. The thing cannot bo done, and it is not efficiently done. The result is one continual condition of intellectual effort, without any result us regards intellectual culture. 1 stated in (-his Council years ago that the cost of tho Education Department could be reduced by £100,000 a year without impairing , its efliciency. I believe myself if nn earnest able administrator, liko my honourable friend Dr. Pollen, had tho administration of the department, ho could work it efficiently and reduce its cost by £100,000 a year. But it

would require not a mere pedagogue, not a theorist, but an able practical man who knew the interest of the State, and meant to see it advanced. The next thing to do is to reduce the general departmental expenditure at any cost. The departmental expenditure, rely upon it, can be reduced by £100,000 a year without materially diminishing the public service of this colony. I admit that this course would have to bo administered by a rough hand ; but, I say, it is required. lam not pretending to any exceptional sagacity—indeed I do not pretend to be sagacious ; but I pretend to bo an observer of events, and I have been watching our affairs with very great anxiety, and I say if we do not take some such measures as these, if wo have not the courage to effect the necessary economics everywhere, this will be the result: Our employers will discover that they cannot pay wages ; our labourers will becomo dissatisfied ; those who can afford it will leave tho country, and others who cannot afford that will remain to grumble and to suffer for want of work ; and there will be immense distress of every kind, particularly among the better classes of this colony."