YOUTH ON THE WING.

Hokitika Guardian, 12 June 1923, Page 3

YOUTH ON THE WING.

SYDNEY, May 30. It has came as a bit of a shack to the people of this State, when we aie crying aloud for people from oversea to" swell our population, to find that our most precious asset, our youth, is on the wing. The' fact has been revealed in an unexpected way, and m iespouse to a reporter’s enquiry respecting the number of public exhibitions available at the _ next leaving certificate examination in New South Wales. The number of exhibitions exempting students from payment ol fees at the Sydney University is governed by the University Amendment Act 1921, which provides “one for every 500 persons within New South Wales who are between the ages of 17 and 21) years,' as shown by the last preceding census.” It was anticipated, in view of the growth of the general population during the last ten years, that there would be a corresponding increase in the number °f exhibitioners between 17 and 20. Rut the figures, according to tho Director of Education, reveal the disquieting fact that there was 579 fewer peopm in New South Wales between those ages in 1921 than in 1911. Either they had flown away or the stork had been less busy than usual. If the former is the ease, perhaps they are all hack again hv now. Youth will have its peripatetic, swing, but the State will ho the poorer if there are anymore of those census surprises.