TRINITY DEBATING SOCIETY.
Should Government make Secondary education free ? was the subject discussed by the Trinity Liteiary and Debating Society last night, Mr Harry Smith opened in the affirmative, maintaining that the present method of education, divided into Primary; Secondary, University, was like a bridge with no connections. It was extreraefy difficult for a youth without means to step from one to the other. Government .should offer greater facilities than at present, the cost would not bo great ; only £25.000 per aunnm was at present received in’ fees. Some3so Primary, and 60 University Scholarships was all the assistance given by the Government and there were hundreds of promising youths throughout the colony who were debarred from continuing their studies on account of tho cost.
Mr. Smith contended that primary education was an insufficient preparation for a man in these days, when the tradesmen, the mechanic, the farmer and the artisan were expected to use the latest scientific methods in their work and the new and improved machinery made education, in its higher branches, a matter of supreme importance.
Mr C. N. Hodder made a capital speech in the negative. He sai 1, that while not deprecating learning, he considered it unnecessary for the working classes. A primary education was sufficient for tho average workman, and the time ex ponded in taking up the higher branches in classes and mathematics might be more profitably employed in learning tho trade, or particular vocation decided upon for life. If secondary education were free, ic would bo tantamount to taxing the poor man to support tho rich, for only the rich would be able to take advantage of it, and tho rich could afford to pay ■as at present for the education of their sons, and increased taxation in this direction was manifestly unfair. Some capital speeches were made, those taking being Messrs Kendall, Foot, J. Jay W. Jay, Rogers, Uddstrom, Sweetmxn, Burrell, and tho President. On a vote being taken the affirmative side won by a large majority. 1
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Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 13 July 1901, Page 4
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336TRINITY DEBATING SOCIETY. Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 13 July 1901, Page 4
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