MORE EDUCATION

Hokitika Guardian, 23 January 1923, Page 1

MORE EDUCATION

NATIONAL SYSTEM REVIEWED

COMPETITION BETWEEN CLASSEN

WELLINGTON. Jan 19. “Sociology and Mental Science in Relation to National Education" was the subject of an address dvlivi rod by Profo.-..sor D. R. White, M.A.. Otago University, at tin- Scion;:’ Congo rs. The speaker dealt with tho sociological i audition, of the -100.001 l breadwinners of the Dominion. Of these, he .-aid. 330.0i1) were men and 100.0011 were women. They v,ere divisible into six classes: (!) Domestic workers, (2) industrial. (3) transport. (4) eommerci al, (ii) agricultural and ((!) pro-fti-sional. The agricultural class numbered nearly 30 per cent, ol the community, the industrial 23 per <eni..| and tho professional class some 10 per (cut. In ev- jy community there would always he different classes of workers, and in that sense there would a I wavho class distinction. The work of each class was materially dilfirent. So me had to do mechanical or menial work.. : .others tho 'more responsible duties. 1 and that difference in the kind. of work would of itself bring about a <1 ilV*m< i• in rank and position, with a turn'sp Hiding dihk'tviH-'' in reinalteration. , The community divided itself oil into j < -. a ud that division ol labour; tended to increase the sum total of national wealth. The division of. labour bail inert ased the eflieieney of labour. and should also increase tho .sum total of human happiness and comfort. Tie- -ix el.i -so- ol bread" nun i " " rU reallv competing groups, each .-trivnig io .ret as large a share, of the - ouituon fund as possible. The hioloe.n a I law , f the struggle for exist' nee ml it- . mi logy in tint lav of industrial i ontpitjiioii hi t v. eett dill* re lll ela - I ! "‘ law of M'lf-i-re-ei" atioii v.o.r'l a Sway

a.-s ti itself as a powerf uI motive in regulating human conduct. It was not possible! to got rid of their principle of .self-interest. Individual interest and individual effort were the best means of securing the highest efficiency in .service, ilnt competition became unfair .selfish, even cruel. Unrestrained competition on the part of the group of workers would soon bring do. l , n the whole fabric of human society. The State,, therefore, must take upon itself the duty of remedial and restrictive legislation in regulating the distribution of national wealth. With regard to the position of women in the fields of industry. they were to he found in every avenue of work, and this was an entirely new development- in ltmcWn democratic shales. At one time it was thought that the home was the appropriate place, hut this phase of sociological evolution had gone-. There were some •JoO.OOO women engaged in domestic duties; to those add IIKi.OOO in- the different classes of breadwinners, and thus it was found that exactly one. half of thci work of the Dominion was carried on by women. What share of the wealth of tin -community were they entitled to lor iheir services.-' Tim- was an economic rather than a soemlogii al problem.

The paper further dealt with the education of the clas-es lo enable them to perform their duties efficiently, ueferenco was also made to the influence of national education on tb« character of the people, ami showed that the aim of national education should lie (I) efficiency on the part of the workers. (2) intelligent citizens, and (;ti honest men and women. More education was required. The greatest damo r 1-1 which democracy was liable lav "in ilie ignor.li: "• apathy, and indifferent : oT 1k • -c -pic. The paper t! ci! dealt at length with the ethical am! ncliiical principles necessary for the moral I ration of the people. 31 j-al tmining was instituted as well lU .|. l-’vcry class did not reijU'i'c i lie same slandard ol education, ),i ; everyone nm.-t ban an opportnuji of rising from the lowest to the ld -kc-i or professional classes. Ihe workers’ edea'iond wore doing g,-c;u s'-rvice in educating -be pco|)le, am! lac i ust i Liu ion promised to become a |e tilde's university and to encourage slcde a degree of Associate in Alts and science should be established. Ihe it undv for the present state of aft airs was lint less, but more, education. There should be part-time compulsory education for those between tbo ages oj Iff and 18 ytnars. The members oi tl 1 . indiislrial class would rule in future. and if they were not bettereducated than they were to-day. discontA:.i -mon would hooonn siimnTiy and re\ oli:l ion