AGRICULTURAL SCHOLARSHIPS

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 254, 26 April 1912, Page 2

AGRICULTURAL SCHOLARSHIPS

WITHOUT PARALLEL IN,THE DOj MINION. A DOG IN THE MANGER POLICY. By Telegraph—Special to News, . Wanganui, Thursday. The extraordinary position in regard to the Taranaki agricultural scholarships was again referred to at the meeting of the Wanganui Education Board last night, when the Chief Inspector (Mr. Braik) mentioned that Messrs. Dixon and O'Dea, members of the board, and he had recently attended a conference in Taranaki, regarding this most important matter, which the inspector stated was without parallel in the Dominion. It appears that the accumulations from endowments now amount to about £IO,OOO, which, owing to the absence of educational institutions to prepare pupils with the necessary scholarship qualifications, have not been taken avail of, and } owing to this an attempt has recently been made to try to obtain a rc-vesting of these endowments in Victoria College. Wellington, the "ranting of which woujd rob the whole of the Taranaki district of a special endowment granted to them years ago. _At the meeting of the- board consideration of the matter gave rise to some straight "talk and indignation, Messrs. Dixon and O'Dea, the delegates, reported that the conference recently held at New Plymouth unanimously resolved that three scholarships per "annum should bo set aside for the encouragement of agriculture and dairying, and that the remaining scholarship.? lie literary ones, as at present. In this way it was considered that there would 'be a reasonable chance, of using the funds derived from the Opaku reserves. It is felt that unless vsomething of the kind were done an attempt would be made by Parliament to divert the revenue to other purposes. The report then stated that Mr. Dixon. had introduced the question of establishing an agricultural school at Moumahaki State Farm, but the proposition did not meet with the general approval of the conference. Then next day the company, with Mr. Braik and the Wanganui delegates, met the Prime Minister at ITawera and discussed with him the recommendation of the conference, mentioning at the same time the suggestion re Moumahaki. Now it seems that the Taraanki Board appears to have taken umbrage at the Wanganui delegates subsequently meeting the Prime Minister, one member referring to this as a contemptible action. Messrs. Dixon and OTDea considered that the Taranaki Board did not properly realise the position. The delegates did not wish in any way to affect thie literary scholarships. There was no intention whatever to divert the whole of the revenues from reserves to the pro,-, posed college at Moumahaki. Messrs. Dixon and O'Dea spoke in support of their conduct, and both indignantly protested against the remarks made at Nejv Plymouth. The latter said that _ it seemed as though there was a reign of calumny and vituperation against the Wanganui Education Board, particularly when their action in Taranaki was characterised in New Plymouth and Hawera as back-door business. In interviewing the Prime Minister they had simply taken time by the forelock. Mr. O'Dea said that unless something was done, very soon these fine reserves would be lost, as Parliament, would not allow them to remain as at present and support only one scholarship. There was already an accumulation of £IO,OOO, and when the reserves fell in there would be £20,000. It seemed to him that Taranaki people were too parochial. In any ease the reserves were in the Wanganui educational district, so that in their conduct there was nothing of the back-door business. He felt exceedingly sore at the unjust imputations. The chairman of the board, Mr. Pirani, characterised the policy of the Taranaki-ites as a dog in the manger policy. The board decided, ou the motion of Mr. Dixon, that the chairman and Mr. Guthrie, M.P., interview the Prime Minister on the matter.