THE EDUCATION RATE.

Thames Star, Volume VI, Issue 1790, 28 September 1874, Page 2

THE EDUCATION RATE.

(To the Editor of the Evening Star.)

Sir,—The education rate will again shortly be a matter for dispute and wrangling. As one of those who paid the rate for '73, and as an unmarried man, I beg to protest against being called upon to pay another pound sterling, while a large number of those with families have managed' successfully hitherto to evade payment of the rate for 73. To be compelled to, contribute to a fund for the education of my neighbor's children, while that neighbor pleads inability to meet a mere nominal demand of 20s. annually for that purpose, and at the same time contributes at least double or treble that amount to the general revenue by the consumption of tobacco, beer or spirits, is, to my way of thinking, one of the grossest injustices ever perpetrated in any country. lam a strong advocate for education, and did not last year, n»r would not now, Object to pay the rate, except on some such grounds as those given above ; and I believe they are fair and reasonable, for it is scarcely possible to conceive of any man in the community being so hard pinched as to be. unable to pay the paltry sum of 20s. per. annum to educate his own children.

Fair Plat. Grahamstown, 27th Sept., 1874.