THE Manawatu Times. SATURDAY, MARCH 8, 1879,

Manawatu Times, Volume III, Issue 34, 8 March 1879, Page 2

THE Manawatu Times.

SATURDAY, MARCH 8, 1879,

'• \Vord3 are things, and a drop of ink falling like dew upon a thought, produces t!i:it which makes thousands, pcrhups millions think."

In another column will be found a letter from Mr. Hknry Sanson, one of the candidates for election to the Wanganui Education Board, which if not actually an election address, certainly bears a very close resemblance to it. Mr. Sanson opens with a statement that he has been informed that his conduot as a member of the .Board has been misinterpreted. This may or may not bo the case, but if so, we were not aware of the fact. Por our own part, although we have differed from him on some minor points, we are quite willing to bear testimony to the zeal, energy, and ability . with which he has discharged th» duties of the office to which he was elected, and we are free to admit that the ; vgra vest charge which could be laid at his door would be an error m judgment. We hare not found fault with Mr. Sanson for his advocacy of District High Schools. On the contrary we consider the idea an excellent one, but we think the scheme somewhat premature ; for although it is quite true that fees have to be paid by the parents or guardians of the scholars, still we think it is a matte-r which might very well be allowed to rest until such time as the Board had placed tho lower schools upon something like a satisfactory footing. That such has not yet been done we think Mr. Sanson will not deny. It has been staled that there are twenty out of the forty-seven schools within the jurisdiction of the Board with, an average attendance of loss than twenty-five scholars, and we ask, with even five shillings m excess of the Government capitation, what would b.e the salary pf a ten.ch.er ? Why, less than fchat of a, laborer. Mr. Sanson is no. doubt literally correct when he says that High School pupils will have to pay fees for the education which they receive, but does he mean to a"sserfc that the establishment of such institutions will not be a drain upon the funds of the Board, We maintain that it will, and we argue that while country schools have such a struggle for existence, it would not only be impolitic but highly culpable to expend any surplus money m such a manner. We hold that the policy to be adopted by the Board should be something similar to the action taken by the Anglican Churc-h m the formation of their Diocesan Fund. The two cases are "perfectly analogous. T'ae Church of England proposes that the contributions for Church purposes m the diocese be all placed m one general fund, from which the pastors of the city, suburban, and country congregations shall be supported — the older, more numerous, a,rid more wealthy thus lending aid to the weaker charges. This is exactly what the Education Board should do. In places where there are, say three hundred scholars, the Board wauldreceive something like £1125, when the teaching power would not cost half that amount, and it will be seen that were the course we proposed adopted, from su.oh a school fully 4^oo per year might be taken and still Ifia.ve a £ood margin for incidental charges over and above that for teach,injr power-. We consider the pro rata system o.f payment for the number of scholars is an unwise one, for while m large schools it would phtee the masters m receipt of large salaries, it has the conntrary effect -upon the smaller ones while the. amount of labor m the two cases would by no means exhibit such disparity. It is almost a.3. easy to teach a class. oE twenty as one with double the number; while the master with two ; hundred 1 scholars gets the lion's share of the. capitation, giving to his assistants a very modest portion. We maintain that no person should be m charge of a. school wfeo is.- not m every way thoroughly efficient and proficient ; but we likewise maintain that they should receive a salary which would make thorn take an interest m the w.ork. If we mistake not, the salary of a pupilteaoherin/the lar.ge* schools, is. £;40 per year, and, is it not preposterous that a master iv- charge of a schoo^— however Stina.ll it niay be— with not only the responsibilities attaching to that position, but family responsibilities of a very : material character, should receive very lit tk more, at all ev^nt^ not double? Undoubtedly the' Wle ot remuneration lp.teacher3 requires a,n adjusfcinent v and we- aru pleased to ace tliat, providing Mr. Sanson be elected, that is one" of thelthings.ho re-onlers ; theßoard pledged to do. Ho has set the minimum salary to be pai,d at£'lUo,. bn,t we. would very much rather see: it iucrea.sed by fifty, or- a,t leant twenty, per cent,, nevertheless llie step of m advance i? one m the right direction. Having sa,id so much as. to the duty of the members of the Board, we may. no,w add a few to ttie. school committees m view of the ap-. proacbing election. The. vacancies., caused m the B.oard w y e.ye created by the retireiueut of a memb.tu" oatli for the counties of Patea, Bangitikei, and Manawatu. At the present lime, during the vacancies, the Board is composed of six members, and although while Wan#amu!¥an tynpt of four, th,ere *$-

maius two between tiio other tli^ee counties, with characteristic modesty it has nominated four fresh candidates. Were Mr. Saxson a less eligible candidate than he is, that would be sufficient reason why the committees of Manawatu should plump for him. Those who have read the reports of the Education Board will bear m mind the continual warfare being waged m opposition to the spirit of centralismxlisplayed by the Wanganui members, and will see the suicidal effect; of ailofring that town to acquire further representation or power at the Board. Independently, however, of that very excellent reason, Mr. Sanson as one of the representatives of tho County has done well m the past ; he has been attentive and earnest ; has exhibited dogged perseverance m his endeavors, and has gained credit from Mend and foe for honesty of intention and a desire for the general good. But there is still another reason why the committees of Mauawatu should support him to a man, and I hat is that we have it upon the authority of Mr. Palbymple that he intends resigning his seat at the Board, and should this take place and Mr. Sanson be rejected, the County of Manawatu would bo virtually disfranchised. Hitherto the struggle against the centralising proclivities of the Wanganui tes has been a severe one wi! 'i two members to take a part ; what would be the result if their places wore filled ' with strangers whose views and interest were m antagonistic to those likely to benefit the County, is a matter which committees had better consider before recording their votes.