OTAGO WITNESS ON EDUCATION.
Sir, — The Otago Witness, in his report of the Superintendent's address, contains a strange compound in the shape of eulogiuin, praise, and dispraise — about half-and-half! Among other novelties, his report has the following — " On the education question the Superintendent expresses the feelings of a large majority of the people of this province. He is quite right in dreading any interference on the part of the Central Government, as more likely to do harm than good." What an innocent assumption ! Otago Witness is a second edition of our friend the Evangelist. He wants a national system of education, but when he cannot effect a contradiction in terms, he is not satisfied, for such a contradiction would it be, if his provincial system should remain as it is, and the Government pass a Bill for what would be called a national system. He would have any rather than a denominational system, and yet he would, so to speak, denominationalise his provincial system on us all. Such selfish and absurd ideas are, indeed, racy of the-Otago Press. Otago Witness does not seem so sanguine of success as he was wont to be, for he says, in rather desponding terms, speaking of the Superintendent's address — " Something more practical, however, might have been expected from him than the mere cry to be let alone. Of that there appears to be but little chance. If not next session, certainly within a very short time, a Colonial Education Act will be passed, and we shall have to make the best of it." So he (Witness) seems to think the days of the Otago system are numbered, and indeed one does not need to be a prophet to see or foretell that event. Indeed, he pays a very miserable compliment to the Central Government. He does not even give it credit for as much honor, honesty, or brains as the Provincial Government possesses. " O ternpora!"—Yours, &c, J. Cabdex.
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https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/ST18720521.2.11.2
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Southland Times, Issue 1581, 21 May 1872, Page 2
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324OTAGO WITNESS ON EDUCATION. Southland Times, Issue 1581, 21 May 1872, Page 2
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