EDUCATION.

Southland Times, Issue 566, 21 September 1866, Page 2

EDUCATION.

(TO THE EDITOR OP THE SOTTTHIAITD TIMES.) Sib, — I have noticed in your columns "Countryman's" letter, -which " Common Sense" criticises with as much acrimony, and thought it but feebly pourtrayed the advantages and disadvantages of emigration to Southland. Several attractions to emigrate were mentioned, and but one detraction — the Want of a public system of education. " Common Sense," in a strain "of indignant sarcasm assails such grumblers. " "What do they expect ? " "Do they' think to buy a freehold estate for their families, with schools at every mile or two, churches and meeting-houses within walking distance, and roads metalled up to their front doors — and all for one pound an acre ? " I will net cavil at Mr Common Senso's composition , but it strikes me that the settlers of Southland hare reason to grumble. They have a right not only to expect but to demand a return for the money they have paid into the Southland treasury. Nominally, they received land for their money, but the same code that secures 'them in possession of that land enacts that the money paid be expended for their benefit. On (hi!?:? terms hundreds of thousands of pounds have been poured into the Southland treasury, and to what end ? To support a legion of officials, which (the police force excepted) prove their usefulness by embarrassin g the progressive spirits of the colonists, by distracting their councils, and latterly, as if they were the arbiters of our fate, not public servants, by placing themselves in direct opposition to the wishes of the people. (Witness the reception of the East Eoad Deputation.) Next to the protection of property, the construction of roads, and the promotion of education are universally acknowledged to be the first requirements of a new settlement. The G-encral G-overnment destined the land revenue and a portion of the customs for these purposes. Where are the roads ? How has education been promoted ? What advantages has the settler derived from the many thousands squandered ? Public servants were paid to work, and they wrangled and talked nonsense, prostituting the word politics to give their balderdash a name. Silence " unreasoning grumbling," is it not sufficient for you that by working late and eai'ly you are ablt to pay the heavy taxes necessary to support the honorable patriots at the head of your G-overnment ? Te " thickheads," how dare you kick against the pricks. " Common Sense" deprecates and censures the exposure of the lamentable, I might almost say criminal neglect of education by our present Government. The advocates for emigration on the one hand, and on the other the members of the Government will doubtless concur in the opinion that " Countryman's" letter is censurable : the one because a clear knowledge of the actual state of affairs with intending emigrants would be an insuperable barrier to their leaving home : and the other because it reflects discreditably^ as rulers, on their intelligence as public servants on their devotion to the interests of the country, and as an executive ou their honor, which is pledged to carry into effect the resolutions of the Council, from which their authority is derived, whose sense they avowedly represent, and by which their obedience is purchased at no small cost. How the present G-overnment has shewn itself favorable to sound education, as "Common Sense" oracularly asserts, even he will find it no easy matter to show. It pleads the want of funds, but money singularly enough is no obstacle, when its own hobbies are in question. The Council at its last session desired that the schools at present in operation should be examined, and the pittance the masters received subsidized. Against this nothing has been done. It is folly to think of keeping an Inspector for half-a-dozen schools. But, as the notice taken of Education is due to the petition of the Presbytery, I have no doubt, should the G-overn-inent seek the co-operation of that reverend body, it would be cordially accorded, and correct returns of the schools given in at small cost. I cannot agree with " Common Sense," that settlers must cultivate contentment until such time as a larger population and capital have wrought a cure, nor complain of the inferior education their children receive, remembering that they generally have prospects here very superior to what tkey have had at home. As far as my observation carries me, unless their education fits them to compete with the stream of educated men from the home country, their prospects will be confined to the plough, bullock-punching, shepherding, and stt ckriding, unless they possess capital wherewith to set up for themselves and employ labour. "Common Sense" in his self assured manner, is veryjsevereon "Countryman "in his own peculiarly refined manner, but that cannot deter another from signing himself, A COUNTEYKAN. September, 18, 1866.