AUCKLAND PROVINCIAL

Thames Advertiser, Volume VII, Issue 1830, 3 June 1874, Page 3

AUCKLAND PROVINCIAL

COUNCIL.-Mondai. . EDOCATIOK. Mr Swan moved, '• That a respectful address be presented to his Honor the Superintendent, requesting him to ask from the General Government of the colony a sufficient turn as aa advance, to cover the current eipeases of Education Boards until the Legislature has time to pass a Genoral Colonial Taxation Act for educational purposes, as also an advance of a sufficient sum to any payments heretofore made by the Provincial Council or Government to the Kducation Board. 2. That the General Government be a.>ked through his Honor to bring before #0 Legislature a bill providing that there shall be raised a sumsnfficient to meet the educational requirements of the colony on the basis of population by a tax on property and income or otherwise. 3. That each province shall be allowed to carry on its own system of education, so that the Legislature shall not be required to deliverany opinion on the different provincial systems now'in force by virtue of Provincial Aots. 4. That the mmey raised for educational purposes by the Colonial Legislature shall be distributed to the several provinces by the Colonial Government on a capitation of population basis as raised." He said it was satisfactory to know that the question of educition had passed out of the domain of merely party poliics. There was no longer any question about the necessity of an education to bo provided by the State for the youth of any particular country. The difficulty which presented itself in this country was the source from which the funds were to be derived that would pay for public education Taking these views of the question, it was clear that they had a right to look to the colony as the proper source from which a'supportforpublioedncationshouldbederived. He had Lr many years'held the opinion that there were certain departments which were peculiarly a colonial charge - he meant the departments of gaols, police, hospitals, and this question of education. Tne first of the series of resolutions was of a routine character, and the only part of it to be established was the propriety of asking the Colouial Government to contribute towards education, seeing that in analogous cases the colony charged itself with the responsibility of educating the youth of the country. The second resolution carried this obligation upon the part of the C donial Government a little further. A bill for education had been brought into tho Colonial Legislature, but this had not suceoeded. He suggested the second resolution with a view to some action being taken. The third and fourth resolutions would be free from any debatable matter. Mr filieehan thought there was no conceivable chance of getting an advance for thiß purpose from the Colonial Government. Indeed the prospect of g-tting b refund from the Board of Kducation' in Auckland was far better than any chance they had of impressing the General Government with the necessity uf giving a con'ribution. The difficult which lay in the way of a colonial measure was that other provinces had a system actually at work which was supported by valuable endowments. They would not accept any system which affected their endowments. The consequence was that the subject had fallen through. But the more he considered the question the more he became impressed with the conviction that the Colonial Government and Legislature was strictly chargoable with public education, he would accept the seoond resolution subject to an amendment, which ho wished to propose at the propor time. He did not see any objeotion to tho third and fourth resolutions. But it might be that an expression of opinion by the I'ouncil mig'it strengthen the hands of the Government.

Mr Carpenter said there was a largely increasing population. - The Cmtonn re renue would proportioaotaly increase. He agreed that education wai tho great question of the day. ' He would support tho last three resolutions most cordially, but hopod his lion, friend (Mr Swan) would withdraw tho first one.

flic C'adaaa thought tho roioldtioßi nm. like a "whip in por^dgMhej

harm. He di I not think there was the slightest chance of getting any money. Ho did not see that he was called upon to oppose the resolutions, but if they asked 1 for money they would have to show the Government how and where they were going to expend it. Mr Hay was of opinion that the resolution did not meet the pressing want of the time. The question was not what might be done in the future, but how they were to meet the instant liability that was upon them.

Mr Buckland also would request the hon. member (Mr Swan) to withdraw the resolutions. They must not shirk thia question. They must faoe the difficulty of this question and other questions like men. )t was a chimera lo suppose that these resolutions would have the slightest effeot. Ho would oppose the resolutions, knowing how Utopian they wero. Mr Crispe thought tho timo of the House was being wasted. If hon. members who had accepted every kind of propositions talked less, there would be a great deal more business done. They bad an Eduoalion Bill before them. ; Why not go to it at once P Why- not stick to tho business in baud p

Mr Cheeseman hoped hi* hon. frieud(Mr Swan) would not withdraw the resolutions. He thoroughly agreed with the principles thoy expressed. He was amused at.the speech of his lion, friend (Mr Orispe), who was so sovero on tho speeches of other hon. members. Other hon. members said precisely the same of his speeches. But this was certain. If they hud any rights to expect from the concessions of a general Legislature they would never obtain those rights unless they_ constantly kept them before the public and the general Legislative, body. He would support the resolutions, subjeofc to the amendments proposed. MrDargaville said: Wildly impracticable as the resolutions were, if they were pressed to a division he would vote for them. An<i for this roason," they contained two principles upon whiob they would wound tbefeeling of hon. members. One of these was the meeting education by an incom-'and property tax, and the other the fixing tlie. response bility upon the Colonial LegisU'ture. ." Mr in reply, said.if they.,were never to ask anything except what they expected to get, there was very little.use going to the Assembly. Why, they would get nothing without asking for it, whether they had a rig'it to it or not. He would be williug to .withdraw tho first of the resolutions.

Leave was given to with Iraw the first resolution. The three last resolutions were put and carried.