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Hokitika Guardian, 21 July 1925, Page 2

TrtF. boasted, not to sav boosted, value of lands in the North Island, will receive a serious check from the report. made public i 11 Parliament last week. A special committee appointed to inquire into deteriorated lands in certain districts of the North Island examined some 874.000 acres, and the report shows that about forty per cent, or nearly half, is reverting to its original condition. The details of the report reveal a sad story of misjudgment in the occupation and treatment of the areas. Too much land was cleared for the stock available with the result that where the land was not over-run with second growth, the felled bush let in the tvet, and slip--? be-

cmne general. The localities, too, were liadlv loaded and to provide the necessary roads would cost much money. It seems to have been a had speculation. and the difficulties are emphasised further by the fact that the two Government departments cannot agree as to valuer, ami it is now proposed to call in a third party to arbitrate. 'Hie opportunity of using the special committee engaged in tho matter appears to have been missed, which is tint- another example of how not to he economical where Government expenditure is Involved. The .Minister, however, appears to have made mi his mind that- a good deal of money has to la 1 lost on the transaction. and a little more or less on valuations will not ruffle the good man! Just how the problem is to be handled is not clear, hut the Government contemplate throwing more good money after what has been lost to try and retrieve the position. The unfortunate holders of the land misguided or misled, appear likely to lose all they had. while private concerns which have loaned money to assist the struggling settlers, also stand in jeopardy of losing their investments. The Minister talks ot iresh Stale loans at cheap rates to retrieve the position, these new mortgages to come first, an indication that those on the land are going to place a yoke on their necks from which they will never be free - the land being so unsatisfactory. 11 seems to he rather a case for a. clean slate, ii those who go on the land arc to have any hope of ever working for themselves and not for the mortgagee.

Tn khk is a murmur abroad a,along parents regarding the amount of homework being given the pupils nl the Slat*' School. As tar as can he gathered there are (exceptional circumstances surrounding the matter which call for it certain amount of pressure being put upon the scholars. The ' ll n.'---tion arises, however, how far the children should hi' penalised in this matter. if it may he so called. Assuming there Inis been remissiiess in the past in the character of the teaching, and l bar the standard of the school is not up tv, that which the latest staff appointments require, it- becomes a question whether the children should be the scapegoats for the occasion. '1 he question of reasonableness in the matter ol heme work has been a recurring subject fur discussion. lint at present the volume seems to lie specially intensified. and parents are complaining generally. The public have little opportunity of ganging the merits ol the occasion. .Nowadays the results of school work are not made public for some reason. There is a ch sc conspiracy to keep the information private, and even members of the committees, wlto have some responsibility in the matter, are chary about discussing inspector's reports, he they good or had. Were these reports published as formerly the public would know the pulse uf things, ami could understand the piuition heller. As it is the people are kept in the dark, and only garbled accounts arc circulated front mouth to month from time to time. As the matter stands at present we may assume that the stall' arc Itcut upon lifting the school ahead. It is a praiseworthy ideal, ami | areuis will appreciate it. Knowledge and good discipline should go hand in hand in the school days, and clforts to that cud will he appreciated, (ini a system of over cram, or a crowding of work, whereby the scholars find their evenings fully occupied with difficult tasks has a tenileiny to break down the pupil and ilcleat the object in view. A brain tiled pupil is a listloss scholar in the morning, and teachers will find their work increased it they have t.o deal with a class room of pupils who have been busy puzzling overnight with their studies. I lie age of children attending State schools is not a suitable time to on lorn; long homo-work tasks. The sincerity of the teachers is not doubted for a moment. Their point of view can he understood very well. Hut there arc Iwo sides in lips case, and we feel that the side of the children is the more important and needs ventilating. We do not do so in any captious way. hilt just as a uoid in season as it were, to call attention to a matter which is of more than passing important e to those elucfii concerned .