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Hokitika Guardian, 1 July 1930, Page 4

In hi.s recent statement on the of the Dominion the Prime Minister said that the huge annual cost of education required serious consideration. The Executive of the New Zealand Educational Institute, apprehensive lest “a check may be imposed on progress in the development of education in New Zealand” has prepared a commentary upon Mr Forbes’ remarks. Nobody would expect that the Institute would meekly accept the suggestion that too much money could be spent upon education. It allows that the question is often asked, “Is the community getting value for the money expeilded on education?” It supplies an answer 1 to this question so far as it considers one to be possible, by saving that the results of education cannot be measured in money or entered in balance sheets, but are seen in the quality and jffiaracter of the people. But what if somebody objecs that he cannot see the results of the expenditure of, four millions' per annum on education in the quality and character of the people of New Zealand? Obviously -such a matter might be the subject of argument till Doomsday. The public expenditure on education in New Zealand for the year 1918-19 was £2,072,000. It has now risen to £4,000,000. During' the decade ending with March, 1929, the school popu-lav-ion increased by 17 per cent, but the expenditure ,on education per head of mean poulation increased by nearly 60 per cent. The Executive of the Educational Institute hazards the view thate “the people of New Zealand probably present the most highly-cultured citizenry that lias ever been seen in the world.” It is an estimate that should make the bosoms of all loyal New Zealanders expand with pride. The Otago Times in passing comment says, it should he glad to think that absolute conviction of its justification might be fearlessly entertained. The outward evidence of high culture in the products of our education system is not invariably impressive. It- does nofc follow, at all events, that every penny that is being spent upon education in Now Zealand i,s being spent i*.o good purpose. The subject is a big one, full of controversial by-ways.