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Hokitika Guardian, 17 March 1921, Page 2

Thk present Minister for Kdueation, Hon. C. J. Parr is prolific in' speech. It will be remembered Mr Massey praised Mr Parr as a most excellent administrator. Mr Parr lias ambitions in the administrative work lie has in hand, aijd speaking at Opawa school in Canterbury, lately he went on to give an idea of what bis goal was as Minister for Education, He said that lie felt that his duties were much wider than generally was believed. His first duty was to see that the health of the little ones was preserved. He wanted them to lie sound. healthy young animals. He would like to have spacious buildings like the new Opawa School all over New Zealand, Hut the final object of an educational system should be to tench children to think clearly, and intelligently. If he, as: Minister of Education taught boys and girls to think clearly and intelligently. li' l nciiM have accomplished his object. Exports and educationists would give in inflated language, hall a dozen goals for the educational system. but bis goal would make them good citizens of the Empire. Teachers should implant a love of reading in the bjreast of every boy and girl Tf they induced them to read good books, the wholesome literature of the Empire, the splendid works in their own tongue, they would accomplish something for each hoy and girl who passed th'.rough their hands, They would open to those young minds a world that words could not describe. If they, by sound instruction in the ‘■three r’s,” taught children to think clearly and intelligently, and if, by encouraging them to love literature they induced sound healthy reading, they would make the people of New Zealand worthy of the finest country in the world. He would not deny that New Zealand's educational system had its faults, but it was something to its credit that it gave every boy and girl a chance to rise to the highest position in the country. Any child, through tli,. educational system, might climb to any position bis or her ambition demanded.

Thk meeting on Tuesday night to inaugurate a Beautifying Association evidenced very plainly that there is much to be done hen* for the improvement of the general aspect. It is good to see that a start is to be made with Cass Square, and the commencement there will In* an inducement for the people to support a movement calculated to do much practical good for the place. The suggestive report put before the meeting covered a good deal of very useful ground, and indicated that- there was a great deal to be done. It will require money to carry out the schemes proposed, and while, no doubt, a good deal will b 0 forthcoming in subscriptions and voluntary donations, it is a sound idea to expect something to lie done from tlu* Borough funds so that the people as a whole, who now and hereafter have the opportunity of appreciating the work will contribute a quota. The idea of a small loan to attend to urgently required works is an excellent one. r i lie modest amount mentioned can In* raised on excellent terms and will not be a serious charge on the hinds. Less than £lO per annum for twenty years, will enable the town’s principal features to be put in oood order, and with the enthusiasm arous- ) ed, one,, the waste places are restored | to a pleasing condition, they will be maintained in that condition. The references to the larger reserves in and aljjout the Borough, in the report, strike us as being a very valuable section of the scheme in mind. The areas in question are fallow and nonrevenue producing practically. Put into the condition they should be, we feel certain they could earn their cost of upkeep and their capital value would be increasing all the time. It is in tin* interests of the town to develops it s assets, as land about Hokitika is growing more valuable all the time. \\ ithin a year or two, the value will jump up materially and the Council could well afford now to prepare for that eventuality. The general trend of the discussion at the recent, meeting gives hope for an earnest forward movement in improving the gene-

ml appearance of the town, and tin proposal deserves th 0 fullest support and co-operation from the powers that be.