Tuapeka Times AND GOLDFIEIDS REPORTER AND ADVERTISER. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 1875. "MEASURES. NOT MEN."

Tuapeka Times, Volume VIII, Issue 437, 24 February 1875, Page 2

Tuapeka Times AND GOLDFIEIDS REPORTER AND ADVERTISER. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 1875. "MEASURES. NOT MEN."

A question was raised at last meeting of the, Education Board which requires some notice at our hands. It refers to the question of rating for the incidental expenses connected with schools. But we shall allow the paragraph to speak foi* itself:—

The committee of the Kaihiku school forwarded the following letter: — "That this committee resolve to solicit the Education Board to bring under the notice of the Government the desirability of getting a bill pas'sedfoy ' the Provincial Council to enable school committees to levy a small assessment on' ratable property, as at present they are de-, barred from raising funds for incidental expenses otherwise than by voluntary subscriptions, a plan which is not found to work well. The committee feel assured that the passing of Bu'ch an Ordinance would be hailed with satisfaction by school committees." ' ' '

Alter some discussion on the subject it was resolred that the Boar J recommend to the Governnsnt the passing of such an Ordinance, and tlat circulars be sent round to the.various school committees in the province to test their fueling in the matter. The natter, it will be seen, is to be j referrid to school committees throughout tfe country ; and if so, we are only acting in the public interests to call attentpn to it. We have on other questijns, such as local works which profesj to be remunerative, advocated the prnciple of local rating. In this way jJausible schemes would be subjected bo the test of the good faith of the primotexs. There are works which have feen undertaken by the General Govfmment of questionable utility, i whicj, if they had been subjected to this i»st would never bave been inaugurated. As regards the matter of an | educaional rate, it is fitted to test the feelings of tbe advocates for State edu- | cation in the way that comes nearest ! their Jeart — i.e., through the pocket. But tblre are several things that ought to be caisidered in the levying of such a rate ;|as, for example, how it will affect tie advocates of denominational schools. Tbe Church of England as a body staid pledged to do their utmost to bringkbout denominational schools ; the Ronnn Catholics, having failed to secure Gfovernment help to their denominational schools, have established such wierever they could on voluntary principles ; and the questiou comes, how will'a rate affect such parties ? If the denoioinationalists insist on their views being carried out by tne State, then we have most emphatically to* say we shall strenuously oppose what is to ns a logical inconsistency, and " even more than that. We have got quit of State pay and Government interference in the churches, and we will be no party to subsidise religion through the schools. We Lave a lively recollection of the bitter feelings that used to be nursed hy the annuity tax in Edinburgh, church rates in England, and the collection of titlies in Ireland. We therefore demur to rates on any such platform for the conducting of public education. Disguise it in whatever form you may, denominational teaching at the expense of the State is just shifting religious endowments from the churches to tbe schools of tbe sects. We. therefore consider that the only ground on which rates can be raised for educational objects is on tbe basis of a secular system of education, otherwise we shall open the way to animosity and discord. The lessons of tbe pasb and present in England should not be : so lost upon us as to lead to a repetition of like injustice. Bnt another difficulty has to be met. The Episcopalians and Roman Catholics form a considerable part of tbe population, and the question ought to be asked, How will they accept a rating for our public schools as at present' constituted] If we mistake not, some difficulty may be met with in these quarters ; and it is for the advocates of rating to carry out the schemeso as to render it as little objectionable as possible, and so as to meet conscientious objections. We have no hesitation in saying that in the question of rating, the real difficulty of State education has to be met.