BOARD OF EDUCATION ELECTION.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4530, 27 September 1875, Page 7

BOARD OF EDUCATION ELECTION.

September 7th being the day fixed for the reception of nominations of candidates for the representationof Wellington Cityupon the Education Board, the Beturning Officer (Mr. H. Taylor), attended at the courthouse at noon. Very few persons were present, and the only nomination received was that of Mr. W. Gisborne, who was proposed by Mr. W. Waring Taylor, and seconded by Mr. James O'Shea. The Returning Ofwceb thereupon declared Mr. Gisborne duly elected. The Hon. Mr. Gisborne said—Gentlemen : Allow me to return you my sincere thanks for the honor you have done me in returning me to be a member of your Education Board._ I oan assure you that whatever imperfections may exist in the education law, however inadequate may be the materials at the command of the Board, and whatever disadvantages it may labor under, I shall do all I can, and although I do not for a moment lay claim to the high qualifications which my proposer and seconder attribute to me, I will endeavor to the best of my ability to co-operate with my colleagues in diffusing sound education as widely as possible throughout the province of Wellington. (Cheers.) It is the function of the State to secure a minimum standard of secular education for every child in the community ; but I •don't think the State should be content with the minimum standard, for in addition it should offer such facilities and encouragement that children might be enabled to raise themselves above that standard and be enabled to reach to the higher education. _ Schools in other colonies offer such facilities and encouragement in the shape of exhibitions and scholarships, so that a child with ordinary application is enabled by his own energy to make

his education self-supporting till he shall have attained the higher or even highest branches of knowledge. That is a system to which I am favorably inclined ; for we "all know that many of the most eminent men of. past and modern times have thus reached the eminence they have attained to, and in which they have been able to confer incalculable good upon their fellow-men for all time to come. (Cheeri) I think every parent when he sends his children to a State school should know that there is a reasonable prospect that should his child or children U3e ordinary industry, and be possessed of average ability, they might qualify themselves for competing in the higher grades of education, and be able to achieve a position which otherwise wealth alone would monopolise. I said just now that the State should confine itself to giving a minimum standard of secular education, but in sayiug that I do not for one moment undervalue the importance of the religious part of a child's education, and it is because I place so much importance on it that I think the state should not be the instructor in religion. (Cheers.) I believe that the State schools are unfitted to deal with that portion of education, and were it to undertake to teach religion, that it would do much more harm than good. (Applause.) Such au attempt ■would only evoke religious disagreements and sectarian conflicts, and disturb the harmony of the whole community. (Applause.) Therefore, the less we meddle with it the better for all parties, for the conflicts I have indicated will be avoided, and religion will bo much better taught by the parents and " the spiritual pastors an l masters," who are the proper guides in such matters. Let the State teach secular education, and do so with the utmost impartiality, and freedom from bias of any nature whatever. lam determined such shall be my course, and in "using my best ability to discharge the trust you have imposed upon me, I hope I shall give satisfaction to you. I have only again, gentlemen, to thank you. (Cheers.) A vote of thanks to the .Returning Officer terminated the proceedings.