WELLINGTON TOPICS

Hokitika Guardian, 27 April 1929, Page 6

WELLINGTON TOPICS

STATE EDUCATION

INCREASED IXTEBEST

(S p eei a I Co r res pendent)

AY ELLINGTON, April 23

AI ore than usual interest appears to have been taken last niglit in the annual householders’ meetings in connection with the primary schools in tho city of Wellington and its suburbs. No doubt the eager activity ol the new minister of Education, tlie Hon H. Atmure, who lias been preaching reform from one end of tlie Dominion to the oilier, has awakened many parents and other interested people to the importance of the public primary schools in shaping the character and the destiny of the nation. Observant members ol tlie community had boon suspecting for a long time past that tlie State schools were not realising all the good things that were expected from them fifty years ago and that New Zealand was falling behind some of the old countries in the preparation of its young people for the battle of lile. Folk of this type seem to have attended the meetings to considerable numbers and to have given an my aceustonied zest to tlie proceedings.

A FRESH lAIPETUS. Air Atmore’s proposed reforms, though far-reaching, are by no means revolutionary.. The Alinister is not going to break down save to build up. If lie should end the primary course of instruction at the fourth standard, instead of at the sixth or seventh, it would be to substitute for the higher standards a course that would take into account the bent and the capacity of the pupils. Under the present system the children, though they differ widely in gifts and inclination, are east, as nearly as possible, in the same mould to tlie abiding disadvantage of those who are not adapted to this primitive treatment. Air Atmore does not profess to lie the pioneer of the reforms he is advocating; but he lias studied closely tlie .records of their operation in England and elsewhere and is satisfied that their application to the State schools of the Dominion would be followed by invaluable results. The goal he is seeking is a system that will satisfy the needs of every child in the country. THE LABOUBi PARTY.

As a political prophet Air H. E. Holland, the lender of the Labour Party in tlie House of Representatives, lost much of his kudos at the last general election. He had predicted definitely that Labour would secure the largest number of seats at the polls, and had declared that it was a question •if only a few thousand votes whether or not it would have a clear majority over the two parties put together. The result of the contest, as everyone knows by this time, was a sad dissipation of his dreams. AVliile the two older parties, including five Independents, secured 57 seats, about evenly divided between them, the Labour party secured only nineteen seats. Undaunted by the overwhelming defeat of his party five months ago, however, Air Holland is now in the field again with a proposal that his followers “should immediately select prospective candidates and open campaign funds,” so as to he in readiness “should the election came at short notice.” ANOTHER ELECTION.

Mr Holland and his followers know their own business best and must he left to make such preparations as they please for a ‘‘.short notice” election. To the outsider, however, it appears that Labour has a very long way to eo Im?fore it can appropriately dub it>elf the ‘‘balance of power”- in the now Parliament. It is true that if the Reform Party had the support of Labour in challenging the XTnitod Government’s right to occupy the Treasury Benches Sir Joseph Ward and his colleagues would have either to resign or to seek a dissolution from His Excellency the Governor. But it is not easy to imagine such an attack being launched against the present Ministry before the United Partv has had the

opportunity to make good. Such a proceeding would help neither of the assailants in the constituencies, and probably would give the party in office an opportunity to strengthen its position. One can well believe that Mr Holland is not particularly anxious to see another general election just now.