The Temuka Leader SATURDAY, MARCH 27, 1880.

Temuka Leader, Issue 248, 27 March 1880, Page 2

The Temuka Leader SATURDAY, MARCH 27, 1880.

Wb have a suspicion that the present system of free and compulsory education will be modified, if not altogether changed, by the present Government. Nor will it be "so difficult to justify and effect. Retrenchment is their practical policy: they are car- ' rying it out in railway management and t public works, and nothing is likelier than --thatftKey will extend it to education. They really have a case to go upon. New Zealand is spending on education a larger sum in proportion to her means than, perhaps* any other country in the world. Education is placed in the hands of the State ; it is paid for immediately out of the public treasury, and the Slate enforce all its subjects to send their children to school. All this is very right and proper in a country overflowing with riches, but at first sight it looks altogether too much of a luxury for hard times. We eay “ at first sight,” for really we are not sure that we can economise 1 much, and give the multi.

ttitle a Jceeut education at the S'mio time. 1 hat o due., lion is .ompulsory argues tliat the State hBt:» its value, nut only in itself, but in its bearing on other Government Departments. vVh<-u nil the people of a country are tolor' biy cduc.-itcd the Raving in police expenditure—not to speak of the increase to the national wealth hy every man conducting his affairs in « sensible way —is sufficient to repay much of the outlay. Let us by all means keep education compulsory. But it is not in that way, so much *s in the free nature of education, that we fear the Government will institute a change. We are paying too much to educate “ tlm children of the people ” they will argue, and forthwith they will put on a fate of so much per head oh all children attending school. How far they will he aide to rt«rcconcile compulsory education with special taxation for that end we don’t know. But the change lias not come yet : we only suspect it. That the Hon John Hall has any hunting desire to see the lower orders educated we don’t believe. His love for free and compulsory education is about equal to his eagerness for Triennial Parliaments. John Hall Is a philanthropist of that very old school who argue that it is essential to the well-being of men that there should he two classes—the rich and the poor, the educated ami the uneducated the ‘‘ swell mob ” and the “ groat mr washed.” John Hull, there fore, in his heart, would rather see education taxed than free, and if ho stands by free and compulsory education, it will be for the same reason that made him vote f<»r Triennial Parliaments, viz., because his constituents wished it. The only good reas >us why the Education Tax should bo restored are that it would cause tin se who benefit by education to pay for it, while those who hava themselves no children would go indexed. Secondly, if people* had to .pay for schooling for their children they would be more eager to see that their children attended regularly. The second argument may be met by the fed tha' education is compulsory', and if people don't send their children more regular y to school—why, make them. But the first argument has Borne, thing in it. It is right that those who reap benefits should pay for them ; and, further than that, sm h a tax might repress over-population. Children would lie horn into the world, their pare nts clearly knowing that they must educate them, and pay for it, too. But wo are not yet at that stage at which population needs to be ro. strained ; and as to the benefits, they are enjoyed more or less by all. It is a groat and high privilege to live in a country of educated men and women. Ignorance is the cause of half our vice and poverly.aml if we repress it by educating the masses, the largo sums voted for education are well spent. Free and compulsory education is, after all, the best and most economical thing to have, and if the present Government wish to retrench, let them do it not by changing the system, but by improving its working.