THE EDUCATION QUESTION.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 229, 29 January 1876, Page 23

THE EDUCATION QUESTION.

(From the New Zealand Times.) Among the many " burning questions" that will come before the General Assembly next session none will be of greater importance than that of education. On I this question our readers are pretty well j aware of our opinion. We are in favor of a national and undenomational system of education, and none other. We think moreover, that no other system is at all suited to this country. We are aware, of course, that on this as on all other questions opinions differ, but we believe that the late election for members of the House of Representatives settled it so far as this constituency is concerned. It is averred, however, that the Provmcialist party is pledged to the Roman Catholic body on the matter of education ; —That, in short, although the education question was not generally raised at the elections, the Catholic vote, North and South, was cast for the provincialist candidate on the understanding that he would support denominational education when the question came before the House. We do not say that this is so, but the rumor comes with such force that we call upon Messrs. Macandbew and Stout in the South, and Sir George Grey in the North, to deny it. The statement has been made; the Catholic vote has been cast in a particular direction, and we require a categorical denial before we doubt the authenticity of the rumor. This being the case, it follows that the friends and supporters of secular education should be on the alert. They at least are not unfamiliar with " the ways "that are dark," and "tricks that are " vain," of denominationalists. The friends and adherents of "religious in- " struction in schools," do not scruple to "do evil that good may come." Any subterfuge will suit them ; any excuse, if at all plausible, will serve their purpose. This is how it has happened that the Catholic vote went with the provincialist ticket. But how on earth will Mr. Robt. Stout reconcile his pledge with his principles ? As for Mr. Macandbew and Sir George Grey we do them the justice of saying that they have no principles Expediency is their sole rule of faith and conduct. Of Mr. Stout we have a different opinion. We think that he, at least, would break with the provincialist party rather than vote for secular education. If he does not, all we can say is that he will belie the promise of his early years.

So far as the Northern team is concerned there will be no difficulty whatever. Those who do not go in tor denominational education as a matter of conscience have no conscience whatever ; •we mean no political conscience. V\ e say this from a knowledge of the men. And we have no hesitation in saying that if the cause of secular education is betrayed it will be by the Northern men. The Otago team may promise but they will not perform. They could not look their constituents in the face and vote as Bishop Moran directs them to do. Therefore we may fairly enough assume that so far as Otago is concerned it is a case of mutual deception. The "block " vote " was cast on " an understanding which is different from that which the elected understood, and it is only to the crassitude of the North that the denominationalists can look for support. _ This may not be strictly moral, but it is precisely what might have been expected. If "the church," or its ministers, will embark in politics, it is unfair to complain if the tortuous course of politics strands them on the sand-bank of insincerity. The result might have been arrived at much easier. Every candidate might have been asked, as the Wellington candidates were asked, whether they were in favor of denominational or of secular education, but this would have made the contest open and above-board, which is the last thing the denominationalists cared for. Plainness of speech and truthfulness of action are qualities which find no place among the moral code of the advocates of denominational education. It was sufficient to have "an " understanding" with the provincialists, under cover of which the holy name of religion should be perverted to the basest of purposes. Let the members of the provincial party deny their share in this most reprehensible transaction if they can do so. As for the Government, their course is clear. There is no immediate need for a uniform system of education. At least there is no hurry for it. What we would suggest is this, that the existing educational machinery be continued ; that a vote be taken for school buildings chargeable on the consolidated revenue ; that a uniform standard of education be adopted for the colony ; that inspectors be appointed by the Government with interchanging circuits, and that payments by results be adopted, i.e., that in addition to his stipulated salary a teacher may earn a handsome premium by application to his work. In this way the education of the colony would be conducted on a uniform plan, while local administration would be respected.

We think these suggestions will commend themselves to all thoughtful men. They involve no sudden or violent change, they do not interfere with local endowments, and they are by no means unfair to any section of the colony. As a simple matter of policy, it is essential that the education of the people should be looked after, but unfortunately under provincial administration this was the very last thinglooked after. Even in the case of Otago, with its enormous land revenue and large local expenditure, its Provincial Secre- j tary, Mr. Donald Reid, recently told a deputation that they must go hat in hand to the Colonial Government to beg money for school buildings, If this be the case with Otago, what must it be with provinces which never en-joyed a land revenue ? We suspect this inquiry answers itself. With the South knocking at the door of the Colonial Treasury for money for school buildings, the North, which is far more heavily taxed than the South, cannot well help following the example of its opulent sister. Wherefore North and South will come to the Government for aid for school buildings. We have already indicated the course we think the Government ought to take in this matter. A sufficient vote should be taken to provide schools for the colony and the expenditure should be controlled by the Government, but the local knowledge of the school committees should in all cases be used. By doing so, and leaving the local control in the hands of school committees, appointed under provincial Acts to which they are accustomed, and controlling the inspection of standards of instruction, the Government would do all that could fairly be expected of them for several years to come. At the same time, we suppose that every step taken m this direction will be fought by the provincialists in the interests of those most illogical of separatists—the supporters of denominational education.