The Feilding Star. THURSDAY, OCTOBER 16, 1890 Political

Feilding Star, Volume XII, Issue 51, 16 October 1890, Page 2

The Feilding Star. THURSDAY, OCTOBER 16, 1890 Political

It would appear that the question of denominational education will be a prominent one during the coming general elections. Several of the candidates have already declared themselves in favor of an alteration in the Education Act in tbat direction, and the Wellington Synod of the Church of England, although not pledged as a body to act, have affirmed the principle, while a majority of its members have undertaken to use their personal influence during the elections to support only those candidates who will pledge themselves to assist in attaining their desired end. We warn all country electors to beware of this innovation. The system of education which now obtains in New Zealand has been built np at an enormous expense to the people, its actual use* fulness is only now being felt, while its advantages are day by day becoming more and more apparent. It would be a pity, then, for this work, which has been created at such an enormous outlay of time and money, should be destroyed in a moment for one of two very insufficient reasons — to catch the votes of a small party of denominationalists, or to supply a cri de guerre during the progress of the contest. This is a subject on which every one who has a sincere desire for the welfare of the present youth and coming generations of this colony should be outspoken. The system has been on its trial for nearly fourteen years, and during the whole of that period has been subjected to the most severe tests. Not only has it been closely watched in this colony, but by every other English speaking country in the world. The verdict in favor of the system has been universal. If the slightest " tinkering " is allowed in the existing laws affecting it, during the ensuing sessions of the new Parliament, an outrage will be committed on the people who have sacrificed so much for the education of their children. The people who have made their homes in the country towns and settlements would be the first to suffer, because they would be deprived of the benefits they now derive from the greater numbers of children attending the State schools in the large towns. The proportion, roughly stated, of the cost of scholars in the towns is £3 per head, and in the country schools £4 per head, while the capitation grant only amounts to £3 15s. These figures indicate how largely the country is assisted by the towns in that respect. Now, let us suppose that the denominational plan was enforced in the towns; the result would be that as the average expenditure in the towns increased by the loss of capitation consequent npon the decreased attendance in the State schools, the revenue of the country schools would be diminished on the same ratio, therefore many of the schools in the country towns, aud all of them in such places as Mangaone, Ashurst, Taonui L Awa Hun, Apiti, Birmingham, &c, young and rising settlements, would have to be closed altogether. We again warn the electors here not to be led air ay by any electioneering olaptrap, but to vote in the direction of reason and common sense.