WELLINGTON TOPICS

Hokitika Guardian, 1 November 1932, Page 3

WELLINGTON TOPICS

THE MINISTER OF EDUCATION. HIS CRITICS. (Special Correspondent). WELLINGTON, October 27. , The. Minister of Education -to-day is not being treated with qui e the same cqurtesyas was extended to his predecessor of tiie past in hi& high office. Sir Charles Beven, who entered the Legislative Council on December 16, 18/4, nnd resigned his seat four days later in order that, he might eontefet a seat in the House of Representatives which would give him an opportunity to improve the educational system of the country, ought to be placed at the heqd of. the. pioneers. In the records -cf successive Ministri's,, however, he appears as Minister of Justice and Commissioner cf Stamps in'the Cabinets of no feuer than five, Governihents between 1874 pud 1878. It was during this per.od that lie spent' him self upon the imp-ovement of’.the education, system cf the country and earned a high place in the estimation, cf the public. EDUCATION A MINISTRY.

It Was John Ballanc?, wlien a member of the Grey . Ministry in 1877-79, .who gave the portfolio of Education a Ministry in the Cabinet. Balance did not remain a foil period with, the Grey - Crbinct, the .administration cf ts leader not. harmonizing with the whole of Iris . views-; but when the Hall Goverument succeeded the (Bay Government- the... Mini istr-y of. Education, ell happily, t,o tbci’ hands of William IpHeston, \Vbo', -in’ addivioii to, this tr'fle had Mines and Nativo,,Afl'aifs caddied u'p-i >:i his broad should rs/ a'burd n that •vtuld ‘set both Mr Forbes and Mr Coates', to sr.y nothing of the leader 'f the Legislative Council, thinking ip these leisurely days. Then came Ministers, of’ Education in ooe Cabinet ufter another—Thomas Dick, Sir Rob"it Stout, ( William Reeves, Rbhert McNab, Sir Francis Bell and Sir James Parr, all good men and true who would da credit to any Parliament.

ATTACK ON MIN! STEP. Now it seems that the Minister of Education' the Hon. Robert Masters, who happens to be a' member of the legislative Council and a Minister j’-ths ; Crown, with the portfolio of Education, is to be denounced in the House of Representatives without hiving an opportunity to hdecjuatejy mover his opponents. Mr A. "j. Stall worthy, the member for Eden, who a year or so ago was sitting in ilib United Cabinet with Mr Masters, ndw :declares that lie has been grossly insulted in the lobbies of the House by the Minister and wants’to place jii record the mensufe of his' 'resentment. Whether it is bad language or a ‘handy cudgel the member for Eden .visiles to administer to Mr Masters wjs not made quite clear in the House, but it is rumoured that others fhhn Mr Stallworthy have been much licensed by the insistence of the Minister upon the- strictest economy wherever it can be justified

THOSE SCHOOL BOARDS. 'Anther malcontent cf the Honss with many grievances against the Minister of Education is Mr H. S. Kyle'; the Member for Piccarton, who camo into politics r.dlK'r hate in life and finds it somewhat difficult to adjust, himself to the) needs cf a Coalition! Last night he appealed to the Prime Minister to set up a tribunal to inquire into the letting bf the school books contract, which, he s.qitl. 1 had be if brought about by the Minister of Education, and was utc*asi miir.g great dissatisfaction throughout; ti, 6 country. No doubt if ) 4 e went to the Minister of Education for the information he requires in regard to this matter lie would obtein what lie wanted forthwth ; but' apparently lie prefers to keep his, grievance in hand in order that lie may reiterate it on such occasions as it is likely to he turned to account. Half the time of Parliament is wasted in members striving to impress their constituents.