Tuapeka Times. AND GOLDFIELOS REPORTER & ADVERTISER THURSDAY, OCTOBER 2, 1873 " "MEASURES. NOT MEN."

Tuapeka Times, Volume VI, Issue 296, 2 October 1873, Page 4

Tuapeka Times. AND GOLDFIELOS REPORTER & ADVERTISER THURSDAY, OCTOBER 2, 1873 " " MEASURES. NOT MEN."

We have not hitherto taken any notice in our columns of the Education Bill now passing through the Legislative Council The country and press generally have taken but little notice of it. They seem to have accepted Mr. Vogel's description of it, viz., that it would do no harm as a reaspn for neglecting it. Even our representatives have not thought it worthy of discussion, and have allowed those features of the Bill, to which the people of Otago especially object, to pass without serious discussion. We refer to the Aided School Clauses. We are happy, however, to find that a like apathy has not been shown bj* the Legislative Council On a motion to extend the provisions of the clauses, specially having reference to Roman Catholics, it was negatived by a large majority. We understand that the Bill is undergoing considerable pruning b}' the Council, and we are not sorry for it. A hue and cry is being raised against the Council for impeding legislation, but if members of the House of Representatives act in reference to other bills in the same manner as they have done with this one, their measures deserve to be pruned, and if need be, -rejected. There is. one feature of the Bill that is in advance of our Otago idea. In this province, and generally, the lords of creation have been the privileged class from which School Committees have been chosen. In this measure, which is a permissive one, both as to its entirety and its details, the ladies of the creation are to be equally privileged. Well, we live in a progressive age, and, in so far as the fair sex and school committees are concerned, we would

say with the illustrious Meg Dods, " What for no." There are ladies as qualified to act on School Committees, and to give advice in educational matters as are the gentlemen usually chosen. . Nay, there are departments of these in which it would be a positive advantage to have their aid. Side by side with this extension of privilege to the ladies, there is a consistent advance made in the provisions of the Bill. In its fourth part provision is made I " Whereby* common schools might be converted into superior schools, such as model schools, grammar schools, and schools for the superior education of girls." It will not then Ibe the fault of the formers of this measure if our fair friends lack the culture necessary to acquit themselves creditably in every department of life. As regards religious instructions, the Bill leaves it with parents and guardians to provide for that, and to decide whether it will be given in the public schools or not. In this respect it differs little from the Otago Ordinance at present in force. It is also provided that eduction be compulsory. The question of rating is left with Superintendents and Provincial Councils to choose one of four systems of taxing — by a capital rate value (i.e., a rate upon the capital value of property), or an annual value rate, or by a household rate, which again is subdivided into two classes, uniform for all houses, or according to the value of the house. In discussing this point, Mr. Yogel condemned the lavish manner in which educational reserves had been set aside, and contended that it ought to be left to those who came after us to provide for educational wants as they arise. There is much good sense in these views. The property already set aside "will one day be very valuable, and the pelfchora it may occasion may- prove an encumbrance rather than a help. The testimony of the past,both in reference to educational and religions endowments, is that there excess has been a bane rather than a blessing. We would allude to the 54fch clause of the Bill before leaving the subject as one to our mind highly objectionable, and would express our hope that the Legislative Council may have dealt with it as it has done with some other clauses. It is to be the effect that " the Superintendent may grant aid to a public school, when refused by the .Board without reasonable excuse." This seems to us arbitrary, and very objectionable. It makes the Superintendent sole judge of the i-eason-ableness or otherwise of a Board, composed of several persons. Now, it is just possible that the Superintendent may have more wisdom than all his advisers ; but what men worthy to be called men would like to be treated as this clause would treiat the Board. If such cases should ever occur, as this clause supposes, what commotion would then arise. Moreover, it is just possible that the Superintendent might use such a power, for party purposes, than which nothing could be more indecent in such an officer. Better to wait than obtain satisfaction in this way. There is much that is excellent in the Bill, but we strongly object to the half-hearted way in which the House of Representatives dealt with the objectionable features of it.

In a recent issue, we rehearsed the story of the loan of £2000 negotiated by the Lawrence Town Council, for the purpose of building a town hall for the convenience of the public business, &c. in connection with our rising little township or city, as we proudly term it. The money, we believe, has been placed in the bank to the credit of the Corporation. A period of five or six months will, in all probability, elapse before it will be required for .the purpose for which it was borrowed, and the question naturally arises, what is to be done with it in the meantime ? Can it be utilised ? We shall have the summer upon us in a very few weeks, and advantage should be taken of it for the prosecution of all the public works the Council purpose executing during the ensuing twelve months. A wholesome lesson of the saving that may be effected to the ratepayers b} r the adoption of this course was taught by ocular demonstration in the waste which attended the gravelling of the streets at the beginning of the past winter; tho money thus expended being absolutely thrown in the gutter. Let the Councillors utilise part of the borrowed money in the manner we have indicated, and give the ratepayers the benefit of six months credit for the rates due, and the community at large will at least have some advantage thereby.