The Daily News. TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 1911. TARANAKI SCHOLARSHIP ENDOWMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 81, 26 September 1911, Page 4

The Daily News. TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 1911. TARANAKI SCHOLARSHIP ENDOWMENT.

At tin? last meeting of the New Plymouth High School Board a special committee appointed for the purpose submitted a valuable report in connection with the Tarauaki scholarship endowment fund. The report traced the history awl development of the fund from the time (in 1S(58) lands were reserved for the endowment of education until the present moment, when the accumulated revenue amounts to no less a sum than £!MSB, and there is not a sufficient number of scholars eligible to take -up the scholarships. It is truly an extraordinary position. The fund is increasing year by year, the net increase last year being about £St)O, and,' Vs time goes on and the present leases (which are based on the value of the land when land was worth very little) fall in or arc surrendered' for fresh leases, the revenue must bo greatly augmented. The accumulated funds are also interest bearing. The fund is therefore in a particularly healthy condition. It is a grgal pity it is not being made more use of by Taranaki. In a way it is a reflection on our educational institutions that more scholarships are not" gained by pupils. The «mditioj)s, it is true, are : somewhat restrictive, but certainly not prohibitive: The scholarships are of the annual value; of £fl<\ and are tenable for 1 - three to four' years; they are open to candidates between the ages of sixteen and nineteen years, who obtain credit-marks in the junior scholarship examinations, but not more than one scholarship can be awarded in any year to any school. A condition is that the scholar shall pass one section of the Bachelor of Science degree or enter upon a course of study in the branch of Applied Science. The High School Board committee desire to widen the conditions. They are of the opinion that the terms of the endowment should be amended so as to allow of more than one scholarship being awarded to a school in any year. They are also of the. opinion that the accumulated fund, i or a portion of it at all events, should be applied to improving the New Plymouth High School and the secondary departments of the district high schools, and thereby provide for the advancement, of higher education in Taranaki. To that end a hey advise that a conference of the member* of the House of Representatives and Legislative Councillors for the Provincial .District >hould be called early next year to consider and discuss (he subject. They do not. however, suggest (hat the standard of qualification for obtaining p scholarships should he lowered. The committee also recommend that the condition requiring scholars to pass a section of the degree of Bachelor of Science or to take up a course of studv in a branch of Applied Science is unnecessary, and should, if possible, be amended. It has to be borne in mind that the New Plymouth High School has valuable endowments of its

own. If, however, the interests of education- in> the province could be ad-, vaneod by applying a portion of the accumulated funds to improving the New Plymouth High School, as well as the district high schools of the province, it is but reasonable that the whole constitution of the local board should be remodelled, and the public given representation, At present, as most people knew, the Board is nominated by the "Governor in Council," and not elected. As we said at the beginning, the report is, a very valuable one, and the recommendations seem to be in the right direction; Manifestly, something must be done to use the fund that is accumulating. Otherwise it will be difficult, to withstand the pressure that outside districts arc bringing to bear to participate in the fund. It has to be remembered that Taranaki lost a part of its original education endowments, and the rich area of land, the revenue from which is building up the present fund, would have shared the same fate but for the strenuous opposition of a few of the public-spirited and far-seeing men of the time.