ECHOES FROM DUNEDIN.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1113, 2 June 1883, Page 1

ECHOES FROM DUNEDIN.

Of the towns of New Zealand I think it is admitted on all sides that Dunedin takes first rank for the activity of its citizens in all matters religious, educational, political, and commercial, and for the number and ability of its leading men. Notwithstanding the reported depression in business matters existing here, the newspaper and the platform rea as animated as ever ; witness the speeches and discussions on Nationalisation ofthe Land, our School Committee’s discussions, our Conference of ministers on education, our animated newspaper discussions on the foregoing subjects, not to mention our Harbor Board, Land Board, indignation meetings of ratepayers, and public affairs of like interest. To give a resume of two or three of these subjects under discussion here, I will begin with the School Committee.

At the last meeting of the Dunedin School Committee, W. D. M. Stuart brought forward a resolution pushing the the Compulsory Clauses of the Education Act to their fullest extent. At present Stanley and Darbyshire’s Juvenile Opera Company are playing several well-known operas at the Princess Theatre. . The employment of such young children (ranging from five to twelve years of age Ishould say) aroused Mr Stuart’s righteous indignation, of which he delivered himself in an eloquent oration at the meeting of the School Committee. Mr Stuart -proposed—‘ That it be an instruction to the Chairman and Clerk totrfnrsuch proceedings as they shall deem necessary for the purpose of compelling the attendance at a public school of the children of school age at present employed in the Juvenile Opera Company now playing in this city.’ In moving this resolution he said : ‘ The Legislature has don« much to protect these little ones against those who should be their best protectors. This Committee has cast upon it this high.function, and though we have reason to believe that we have within this school district breaches of the the attendance clauses of the Act, these, though not unknown, are conipararare and unimportant. But at. the present time the Act is being outraged both in letter and spirit in a manner which certainly demands our attention. There are at this moment, on the boards of the Princess Theatre, a company of children, many of whom are within school age, I shall say nothing of the miserable selfishness and despicable avarice which prompts the employment of these poor waifs. There are surely none who can for a moment defend the wickedness which finds a vent in ruining mere children, body and soul. I should be breaking a butterfly were Ito say one word in condemnation of the employment in any kind of labor of children, such as one may see to-night masquerading for the profit of others in a place of public entertainment. But when the workroom is a stage with its notorious accompaniments, when the work is such as muse unfit the infants engaged in it for the poor profession they will be compelled to adopt should they to poor pinched maturity, which we may hardly dare to contemplate—when the hours are such as are to all dangerous —then I should say wo would shamefully betray tho trust of the householders of Dunedin if we did not seek to enforce the compulsory clauses of the Education Act, in the interest of the JuvenileJOpera Company.” The motion was agreed to, Mr Stuart’s first speech and motion has of course drawn forth several adverse comments, but I think most will agree that it is a step in the right direction, that it is time these juvenile opera performances were put an end to, for it must be borne in mind that it is only the bright side of their life that we see; when arrayed in pretty drosses, being encored by large assemblages, and the other enjoyments of the stage, and that we do not see their rehearsals, nor their struggles to commit to memory long dialogues and songs, for they ‘ must’ be struggles to such young children. What would a child of nine or ten years of age in any of the public schools think of learning by heart, and as thoroughly as actors and actresses must do, the speeches and songs of the principal parts in ‘ Les Cloches de Corneville,’ ‘ Pinafore,’ ‘Jack the Giant Killer,’ etc. I am doubtful whether the compulsory clauses of the Act are applicable to this case, and whether the Committee have power to enforce them or not, but it is satisfactory to see the spirit and fearless action of

public men in such matters as these. The Dunedin School Committee has shown the school committees throughout New Zealand a good example honor for their action.

The Nationalisation of the Land—a subject worthy of study by everyonehas been receiving its share of public attention, both on the platform and in the newspaper columns. The latest addition has been an interesting and exhaustive speech delivered by Professor Maiuwaring Brown, M.A., L.L.M , on “ Schemes for the Nationalisation of the Land, and the History of Land Tenure.” Professor Brown is a believer in the ‘ principle’ of Nationalisation, though not an advocate of cither Mr Wallace’s oi Mr George’s schemes for it« introduction. Anyone who lias carefully read Mr George’s “ Progress and Poverty,” must feel convinced that some alteration in tho existing relation between the landowner and the State must be made, though of course each will have his own opinion as to what may be the best remedy. 1 might mention, to show how eagerly the book has been studied in England, that all the first edition of “Progress and Poverty” in London was sold out in a few days, and that a very heavy edition had to he pub’ lished, and this sold as ranidly as the first. It is the production of a compara*

lively obscure man, a San Francisco journalist, but a man without doubt possessing superior thinking and literary talents Its argumentative and yet easy and eloquent style bears testimony to this. From Professor Brown’s remarks I cull the fpjlowing, which are perhaps the most striking:—After dwelling on the importance of the subject, Land, * from the materials of which our frames are composed, and the whole of the vast sura of necessaries and luxuries which constitute our wealth can only be obtained,’ the learned man went on to say ‘ that man could create nothing, All he could do in iI)A .pmcluotion of wooltK toofluto convenient forms the materials with which the Bounty of Nature provided him. Yet, owing'to a peculiar train of circumstances, the control of this prime necessary (i.e,, land) tended in most civilised countries to pass into the hands of a small class, who treated it as if it were of no more importance to the community than the wine in their cellars. The evils of this system had lately reached such a pitch in Ireland that the State had been obliged to step in, and it was now plain that the institution was not so powerful as to he beyond the reach of the Government. At the same time, by the recent clauses in the Land Act a moat important new experiment was tried in this.Gotohy, To discuss theories of the best method ot land tenure was then, not to dabble in mere Utopias, but to examine schemes that might have a vital effect upon the future of the Colony,’ Furtuer on, Professor Brown remarked ‘ that as Sir Dillon JJgliiwd lately pointed out, thh'irumber ■6f small farms (in New Zea'aml) was exceptionally great in propottion to the population, while the proportion of owners * of land, in towns as well as country amounting to 6 per cent., exceeded that of any other country, If then we compared our system of land tenure with that of any other country they might justly feel that it is a very good one ; but if we compared it with what the believers in nationalisation said, itmight be we would find reason to doubt whether we were not impeding settlement on the land, preventing the expenditure of capital in improvements, and throwing away the most munificent, source of revenue that a State could possess.’ And again ‘it must be remembered that the scheme was not the device of enthusiastic amateurs, but was sanctioned towards the end of his life by such a veteran political economist as J. S. Mill, the thinker of all least lixely to have his head turned by the mere glitter of an impracticable plan.’ In conclusion the lecturer said ‘ that this was the country ef all where the scheme might be expected to succeed. He need not remind them of the enormous rises in the value of land ; little would remind them that with our radidly increasing population, our splendid land will get more under control, and before long rents will be paid that we do not now dream of. The question for us now was : Shall we encourage the growth of a class living in idleness, or shall we appropriate the rent to the benefit of the population at large ? A short time ago a conference of ministers was held here for the purpose of taking some concerted action for Bible instruction in public schoools. Nearly all denominations were represented by their ministers or laymen. I regret that owing to the widely different opinions held by some of the pastors no very unanimous agreement was come to. The apparent hopelessness of securing the unanimity of those discontented with the present system seems to be the greatest obstacle in the way of effecting any change in the existing state of affairs. , A feature in Dunedin is its University, which is now in the full swing of its ses- ’ sion’s work. lam glad to say that provisions have been made for the completion of the medical curriculum, so that in A short time a youthful sawbones can obtain his coveted M.D. and become a ‘ duly qualified medical practitioner’ without leaving the colony. If your readers do not find this somewhat lengthy communication too unpalatable, I may probably send you at intervals a short account of \vhate\e may be taking place for the time of an interesting character in this southern metropolis. Eusxrcus.