SOCIAL CONTROL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 464, 8 July 1909, Page 2

SOCIAL CONTROL.

In the course of a speech a;t Christchurch, the Hon. G. Powlds, dealing with Education matters, said that in New Zealand great importance had been placed in local control, and in his opinion the system owed a. good deal of its success to local control. He hoped, whatever changes might occur in the future, that local control and local interest would be maintained., In other countries they found’ local control was accompanied by local responsibilities, and local contributions towards cost of education. He thought, that in the days to come New Zealand would probably have to move in the same direction, by throwing more directly into the hands of the people the responsibilities and control of education within their own immediate neighbourhoods. The system of local rating for education Jjgyi been, tried in practically all the countries that were leading in educational matters, more especially in- Switzerland. That little country,, which, had

been the home of many experiments was, in his opinion, standing in the front rank of the nations of the . world to-day in regard to educational Inatters. The United States were forward in education in many parts, and though there was not the same level throughout the whole country, the general standard was very high, and there also local control with local rating was the system. In Switzerland the proportion out of the State fund was 51,9 per cent., local taxes 48.1; Chicago (the foremost educational city in America), State 3.9, local taxes 96.1 ; United States general average, State 18.8. local taxes 1 x.2 ; England, State 53.7, local taxes 46;3 , Wales, State 56.6, local 43.4 ; Scotland, State 52.3, local 47.7 ; Ireland, State 92.1, local 7.9. In New Zealand almost the total cost of education came directly from the Government.