The Southland Times. FRIDAY, APRIL 1, 1870.

Southland Times, Issue 1231, 1 April 1870, Page 2

The Southland Times. FRIDAY, APRIL 1, 1870.

Mb Andbew Kinross occupies a whole column in the News of Wednesday, with what he evidently intends as a terrible castigation for ourselves, a "glorious vindication" of the Government, and an infallible dictum on things in general, and onthe value of flax land in particular. "We had roused the ire of the " Censor of Myross" by animadverting in befitting terms upon a recent act of the Government (of which he is an ornament) in departing from the usual and proper practice in disposing of a certain public property. The News, forced to admit the "error" of the transaction, and . unable either to justify or palliate it, sought to mystify and divert attention from the subject by a resort to its usual tactics — impertinent, irrelevant, and contemptible personalitiee, which, as we have previously stated, precludes us from discussing any question with that, journal, and has probably laid us open, in Mr KToraoss's eyes, tothechargeof " evading argument." Dissatisfied, apparently, with such a lame defence, Mr Knutoss deigns to " run a tilt " at us himself, and so, having" lashed his fury to the proper, pitch," launches hia thunderbolt. "Well; possibly we ought to feel dreadfully crestfallen — annihilated in fact; but, unfortunately for the aforesaid " Censor," fulminations from such a quarter fall perfectly harmless. It may be that we are impervious alike to reproof or admonition, to praise or blame, to threats or flattery, and our perversity is roost distressing to Mr Kdtboss. At all events we must candidly plead guilty of total indifference to his rigmarole. In all seriousness, however, Mr Kinkoss's letter is a gem in its way — a display of profound egotism not to be matched. A single glance shows the dogmatical idiocrasy of the writer. The imperative "I " crops up everywhere. " I hoped," " I consider," " I believe," " I differ," " I m," and " I only," and sojm ad nauseam.

It is sad, indeed, when a Government is reduced to depend on sucli men as Mr Kttrboss to defend it. Better far for him and it had he treated us, as he says we deserve, with " silent contempt." As it is, Mr Krsraoss only makes matters worse by showing conclusively that the transaction complained of was not the result of accident or oversight, but a coolly accomplished arrangement. The people will no doubt be glad to know where to iapply for information on public questions o fat ure. Mr Kisboss says : — " However, as I consider the people are entitled to receive legitimate information on all public questions, and as I believe it is not generally known how applications for flax growing ori public reserves should he made and treated, / beg leave to state my opinion on this question, and to offer some explanation of the grant to Messrs Nichol and Sheabeb." In giving the explanation, Mr K. settles the powers of the Superintendent in dealing with reserves, and proceeds : " Some think all should be allowed to cut flax indiscriminately ; but I think we should stimulate the flax manufacture more by giving security of tenure to those who are willing to erect machinery, and who woul i thus be more likely to take some care of the flax." This is precisely what we thought, and think still, and the consideration which induced us to find fault with the Government for granting privately exclusive privileges. " The Times says, 'all Government property should be disposed of publicly,* but this opinion requires modification. When the property is not deemed of much value, or when no competition is expected, I think thia might be dispensed with at the option of the Government." We fancy those who want an article are the best judges^ of its value, and deem it wrong in principle to place a Government in the position of valuators. Mr Kjnboss next informs the readers of the News that he " only attends the Executive .meetings about once a week"— hence, probably, the blunder — and leaves the routine business of Grovernment to others. The following paragraph is too good to curtail : — " The Times sets a value on this flax that is not borne out by the number of applications that have been made to. the Government for the use of reserves — and I do not set a high value on flax grovring on -my land." A very cheap mode of advertising! It may be a relief to some supporters of the present Executive, whose faith was Deginning to shake, to have this declaration from Mr Kinross. "I believe every member ofthe Governmnet will conscientiously decide any application on its merits, — without fear or favor." We hope they may — in future. In conclusion, might we ask Mr Kinboss whether it is customary for one member of an Executive to disclose through the correspondence columns of a newspaper what takes place at cabinet meetings? Perhaps his colleagues would like to ask the same question. At home, and throughout these antipodean colonies, educational systems are at the present moment engrossing more thought than they ever did. Statesmen and philanthropists indiscriminately vie with each other to solve the vexed problem, How to teach the masses ? The earnestness and frequency with which the question is everywhere discussed, and the unanimity which prevails on one point at least, viz., that the time has come when something must be done, leads to the hope that a comprehensive and effective system will soon be devised and put in operation. The matter may no longer be put aside for future consideration. All the plans in vogue are found inadequate to the task, and means more powerful must be constructed and employed, otherwise ignorance and vice threaten to swamp our civilisation. In our own little corner of the earth the same universal question has been the cause of much anxiety and trouble, and is in, perhaps, as unsatisfactory a state as could well be imagined. Practically, we have no organised method, no concerted plan of training the rising generations. Schools' there may be, but their operations are disjointed and inharmonious, and their effect is consequently to a great extent lost. We want the system nationalised, combined, and controlled, so that the labors of that ilUrequited class, the teachers, may be productive of better and more general results. The Otago people have long plumed themselves, with some justice, it will be admitted, upon the system which they have adopted, and its excellencies were extolled pretty loudly by the admirers of that province at the time re-union was so much talked of here. If re-union ever takes place, we will probably share in the advantages of that scheme, and if it doeß not, it might be wise to organise for ourselves a measure something similar. Indeed, judging from the liberal provision made by our neighbors for the instructors of their youth, it would be a good thing for schoolmasters if che scheme were made a colonial, instead of merely a provincial one, and it is doubtful whether any solution of the difficulty will ever be found until a uniform system is put in force over the whole colony. The leading features of tbe Otago Ordinance, which it is well that all should be acquainted with, are thus summarised by the Bruce Standard : — " In f ulfilinent of our promise given in a previous issue, we would wish to draw the attention of our readers to the Otago system of Education. Throughout not only the Provinces of New Zealand, but also the Australasian Colonies, the educational system of our Province has obtained renown. And in these days of " National Education Leagues," " High School Commission Eeports," etc., the system which is, as it is believed, very near perfection, demands careful consideration. The Otago system is strictly a Governmental, or rather, a national one. It recognises no denominational distinctions. The " war of creeds " has, happily, never been waged around it. It has been looked npon simply as a department of the civil service, with sufficient of local manage-

ment infused to' keep up the interest of the various districts iv school life and school work. The chief governing body, called the Education Board, consists of the Superintendent, his Executive, and the Speaker of the Provincial Council; the qualifications of members of the Board being strictly defined by the Education Ordinance of 1864. It is political in its constitution, and no member has a longer term of office than three years, without re-election. The powers of the Board are large. It decides when^new schools are to be opened, and wheije tfcev are to be located; approves -f •the. appointment of the masters ; has the sole power of dismissing teachers, and applies the money voted by the Provincial Council in manner provided by the Ordinance. Besides these duties, what will shortly be the means of providing the greater portion of school revenues is under the control of the Board ; we allude to the land reserved for Educational purposes. By a wise regulation, one-thirtieth of all the wastelands sold is reserved for Educational purposes. The Board has not only under its control all the primary, or district, and side, schools, but, without any local intervention, is sole manager of the High School. As officers, the Board has a Secretary and Inspector, and a Music Master, who also acts as Sub-Inspector. The supervision exercised by the Board is more than nominal, and a recollection ol* the dealings of the Board in years past wili suffice to show that teachers are sometimes very summarily dealt with. Moreover, the Board has by resolution prohibited all schoolmasters taking 'an active part in local politics.' " To make the various districts interest themselves in Education, and also, when the Ordinance was passed (1864), to allow them to assess the land for the maintenance of the schoo's, district committees are elected oh the second Monday of January in every year. The rate has been abolished/but the system of election proceeds as heretofore. Those who are householders, heads of families, and landed proprietors are the electors, and eligible for election. The committees have the general management of education in their respective districts ; each district having at least one district school. The committees'power, is very vaguely defined, but they have the privilege of fixing the" fees' to be charged, and appointing the teacher, subject, however, to the board's approval. Tbe disposing of the revenue is left'to the committee. In district schools no teacher's* salary must be less than £100. "There were in December, 1868 (tne 1869 returns not having yet been published) sixty-eight primary schools in the Province. Of these there were twentyseven side schools, or, as they might be termed, second-class primary schools ; the first-class being the main schools. This number has been increased, so that there will be mow altogether about ninety schools in the Province. There are four Grammar Schools, namely, at Oamaru, Port Chalmers, Tokomairiro, and Lawrence respectively. In Dunedin there are two free schools for the education of poor children. There is also a free school in connection with the Benevolent Institution at Caversham, and an Industrial and Reformatory School near Caversham. " The Education revenue is annually voted by the Provincial Council. Por 1868, there was expended onthe High School a sum of £2155 19s 7d ; on the primary schools, £9098 18s 6d ; on expenses and officers of the Board, £1099 lis 2d ; and for grants in aid to district libraries, school sites, etc., £266 4s 6d ; making a total of £13,020 13s 9d. In 1869 this sum has been largely increased, and will be about £20,000. The aid given to a main school sis a free site, school buildings, and teacher's residence ; £100 to the schoolmaster, and, if sanctioned, £75 to a schoolmistress, and payment of one or more pupil teachers and assistants. In Dunedin, we observe the rates paid are higher than allowed by ordinance, namely, £100 to each schoolmistress, and san allowance of £100 each to the second masters in the three main schools. Why the provisions of the ordinance should have been so abrogated, we do not know. To the teacher of every side school £75 is given by the Government. The fees vary from six to fifteen shillings per quarter per pupil, hardly two districts being alike in fees. The fees are ex p ended in keeping the buildings in repair, one-third only being paid by the Board, and supplementing the teacher's salaries. The Board also pays for all children whose parents are unable to pay the fees charged by the committee, and in IS6B a sum of £256 17s 9d was expended for this purpose. At the High School the fee charge is £2 per quarter per pupil, and at Grammar Schools the highest charged is £1 ss. The Board gives the Rector of a Grammar School £200, and the Grammar School ordinance enacts that the salary shall not be less than £275 per year. The salaries of the High School masters are as follows : — Rector, £550, with free house ; second and mathematical masters, £450 each, with rent allowance £75 .each ; and English master, .£550. There has also been appointed a Provincial drawing master, whose duties are not as yet clearly defined."