The Nelson Evening Mail. TUESDAY, JULY 18, 1876.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XI, Issue 177, 18 July 1876, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. TUESDAY, JULY 18, 1876.

If all the Bills introduced by the Government this session are to be as unpractical and impracticable as that which, bears the title of " Education Boards," and acknowledges Sir Julius Vogel as its sponsor, the sooner there is a big bonfire, fed by the paper on which they are printed, in front of the Houses of Assembly in Wellington, the better for all concerned. Eounded upon a total misconception of the requirements of the people, with every integral portion of the structure in a crude, unfinished, and faulty condition, and the adhesive properties of the mortar which binds the whole together mixed upon mistaken principles, and in entire ignorance of those qualities which are essential to safety and permanence, the whole edifice, if we may apply such a term to such a construction, is rotten and unreliable from the foundation to ti»e eaves. By way of illustrating its defects, and proving that we do not exaggerate them, we will compare its provisions with those of the system which for thirteen years has been adopted in Nelson. The latter provides that each educational district should elect a Committee having full control over its own local affairs, and that each Committee should elect its representative at the Central Board, the number of these being supplemented by the addition of a member nominated by the Superintendent. Each of these elected members is directly responsible to the electing body, which has the power at any time to revoke his appointment, and to substitute another member if deemed desirable. It is needless now to recapitulate the duties and powers of the Board so elected, as tbev are well known to all those in the province who have devoted any attention to the subject. So much for the constitution of what we have hitherto known as the " Education Board." Now with regard to the rates to be levied. Our own Act provides that a uniform rate of one pound, and a further sum of five shilling for, every child between the ages of five and fourteen years, shall be paid by each householder, provided that no person shall be liable to pay for more than four children. These two, then — the constitution of the Board, and the rate for which each householder is liable — are the points on which we proposo to touch to-day. With reference to the former we find that after the Ist of February next two persons are to be appointed by the Governor, one person by the Judge of the Supreme Court within whose judicial district the education district is situated, and not fewer than five nor more than twelve persons " to be elected as in the manner hereinafter provided." What is the " manuer provided " so far as Nelson is concerned? The district is divided into seven sub-districts, namely :— The electoral district of the City of Nelsonof the Suburbs; of Motueka; of Collingwood; of the Buller; of Waimea and Cheviot, comprising as much of the Cheviot District as is in the Provincial District of Nelson; and of Grey Valley, comprising as much of that electoral district as ia in the Province of Nelson. Each of these districts is to return one member, except the Grey Valley which, denuded of the town of Greymouth and that portion of the valley which lies on the south side of the Grey lliver, contains not nearly as many electors' as the City of Nelson, and uofc a tithe

of the number of children requiring education, that is to be found either in Nelson, Waimea, Motueka, the Suburbs of Nelson, or the Buller— and yet the Grey Yalley is to have two representatives at the Board. The apportionment of the members of the Board is so palpably unfair as to be altogether beneath comment. And of whom is the electoral body to be composed? Of every person on the electoral roll for the district, and of every person holding a miner's right or business license who Bball have resided in the district for six months continuously previous to the day of nomination. Under the Nelson Act the ratepayer alone has the right to vote at the election of a member of a Board specially constituted to look after the educational interests for the promotion of which the rate has been levied, but under this model Bill, which bears the name of Sir J. Vogel as its introducer, every Dick, Tom, and Harry who has happened to live in a tent in an educational district for six months and to hold a miner's right, and who may be oft to another district or colony at a moment's notice, is to possess equal privileges with the father of a family who pays his rates and is directly interested in securing the best available means of educating his children. This surely is a mistake even grosser and more unpardonable than that displayed in the apportionment of the representatives of the Board. Then there are the nominated members. That the Government should be represented oa the Board is perfectly fair and unobjectionable, but two members out of a total ef eleven, of which number the Nelson Board will consist, appears to be too large a propoportioii altogether. But now we come to the crowning absurdity: " One person is to be appointed by the Judge of the Supreme Court." Why the Judge? What on earth does his Honor Mr Justice Gillies, a resident in Auckland, who three times a year spends, perhaps, a week in Nelson, during which time he is fully occupied with his judicial duties — what does he know about our educational requirements or who is the best man to look after them? What can he know; what will he care? It is impossible that he should exercise any judgment in his selection if left to himself because he is not sufficiently acquainted with the residents in the place, and the consequence will be that he will either be guided by the Government, thus securing to them another nominee — three out of eleven — or he will place himself in the hauds of a friend possessing more local knowledge than himself who "may possibly make a judicious choice, but on the other hand may be the means of introducing into the Board an element of discord that will make itself felt throughout the whole district. What does it matter to the individual bo appointed ? He is responsible to nobody. What will it matter to the Judge? He, in the event of a complaint being made, will reply to the Government, in official and courteous terms no doubt, but in effect : — " Why the deuce did you place me in bo ridiculous a position?" And if the godfather of the Bill can give a satisfactory answer to so pertinent a question we should very much like to hear it. The method of raising the funds required is to undergo a complete alteration from that to which we have been accustomed and which has hitherto worked so fairly and so well. The householders rate of £1 a year is to be abolished, and thus he who is a comparatively wealthy man and can afford to send his children to a private school is not to assist his poorer neighbors in educating their children, nor are those who have no children to be called upon to help in the work in which we are all indirectly interested. No, the richer man is to pay nothing at all, and the poorer one is to pay more. A fee of £1 per annum for each child attending a public school is to be paid, provided that no person shall be liable to pay more than £3. At present, a parent sending three children to a public school has them educated for £1 15s per annum ; after the Ist of January next he will have to pay £3. And then, to cap all, education is to be compulsory. Many arguments may be adduced in favor of this, and, indeed, after reading the report lately sent in by the Inspector, we have been very much inclined to believe in its necessity, but, if compulsory, education should be free. On such a condition alone would the interference with the liberty of the subject be tolerated. "We predict a severe handling for the Education Boards Bill in Committee, even if it should pass the second reading.