TARANAKI SCHOLARSHIPS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 255, 27 April 1912, Page 4

TARANAKI SCHOLARSHIPS.

If the Taranaki Education Board controlled, as it should control, education throughout the provincial district, instead of only about two-thirds of it, the cause of education in Taranaki would greatly benefit, and', incidentally, we would be spared the exhibition of wrangling that has lately been going on between the Taranaki Education Board and certain members of the Wanganui Board over the proposal to vary the terms of the Taranaki Scholarship Act. At the conference held at New Plymouth the other week to discuss the position in regard to ;tlieae scholarships, resolutions were adopted recommending a modification of the conditions governing the present literary scholarships and widening the scope of the endowment to embrace the awarding of dairying and agricultural scholarships. At present the scholarships are practically going a-beg-ging, only three scholars having bo far qualified, and consequently the funds are rapidly increasing. They now stand at nearly £IO,OOO, are accumlating at the rate of £750 a year, and when the reserve leases fall in, as they will shortly, the revenue should be more than doubled. Attempts have been made to appropriate the funds to "Victoria University, and, judging by the tone of the discussion when the subject was last before Parliament, it is certain that unless something in done soon to make better use of it, the endowment, or a part of it, stands a good chance of being diverted. The members of the Wanganui 'Board who attended the New Plymouth conference, took it upon themselves to interview the Premier in re.gard to establishing an agricultural school or college in connection with the Moumaliaki State Farm, using the funds of the Taranaki scholarships for the purpose. The Taranaki Education Board hold that they had no right to do this, and at' its meeting this week carried a resolution protesting against the proposal to divert any portion of the fund to establishing an agricultural college, the Board holding that the funds should be used only for the purposes set out in the Act, viz., to provide a university education for Taranaki children. The Wanganui delegates retort that in interviewing the Premier they had simply taken time by the forelock, and that the Taranaki Board are too parochial and "dog in the manger" in their attitude. It appears to us that the South Taranaki delegates acted' somewhat hastily and perhaps indiscreetly in the matter. The interviewing, if any interviewing was to be done, should have been left to a delegation of the bodies concerned, are not effected by any section that chose to arrogate authority to itself. But, of course, this is a small matter. What is of deep and vital concern ito Taranaki is utilising most advantageously the magnificent educational endowment it possesses, but which so far has been practically unavailed of. The conference's suggestions offer a way out, and are deserving of the sympathetic consideration of all who have the interests of higher education in this province at heart. It is certain, as pointed out by the New Plymouth High School Board Special Committee prior to the conference, no great increase in the number of scholarship-holders can be expected under the present conditions of secondary education in Taranaki, and unless something is done soon to vary the conditions attaching to the scholarships, Taranaki stands a good chance of having no small proportion of the endowment diverted elsewhere.