THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. FRIDAY, AUGUST 23, 1912. THE TRUST LANDS TRUST.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10701, 23 August 1912, Page 4

THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. FRIDAY, AUGUST 23, 1912. THE TRUST LANDS TRUST.

During the last *few wcekts an un■worthy .attempt has been made iu certain quarters, and by certain misguided individuals, to impeach the Masterton Trust Lands Trustees as a body, and to make it appear that the revenues derived by that institution are being deliberately thrown away. Nobody who has a knowledge of the facts, and who appreciates [he splendid work that has been done for the primary schools of the district, will have the slightest sympathy with those who speak disparagingly of the Triust. We hive ourselves, urged that the time has arrived when the Trustees yhould adopt a definite policy for the future, i«o that, with the increasing revenues, the town may derive «ome permanent advantage, an advantage which cannot be secured by less favoured communities. At the same time, we would not dare to suggest that the subsidies at present given to the primary schools, and to utilitari :n institutions for that matter, should be withdrawn. We have no hesitation in saying that the founders of the Trust -wore more concerned for the primary education of the young, than for the creation of a class of professional men and women per medium of the College and University. That being so, we maintain that any attempt to rob the children of the j masses of their rightful heritage, and ' to hand it over to the el awes, should be strenuously resisted. When adequate provision has been made for tho reasonable requirements of primary education, furnishing the schools with something superior to what h obtainable in other primary schools, it is the duty of tho Trust to see how far it can assist in. the way of secondary education. In this connection we would point out that Masterton is the centre of an agricultural and pastoral district and that, with n view to inducing a love for tho soil, the Education Board has t'nstt-

tutod an agricultural course ia th ; District High School. This cours. 1 (loos not in any way interfere with nn. triculaticn. Its object is to propar. the mind of the yovith for tho reeop tioa of higher instruction of a vocational character. It is true that hitherto the Govejjnnwmt lias made no provision for secondary education in agriculture, nn's defect in our system is now to bo remedied, and the Government proposes to establish Agricultural Colleges. If the North Ishnd College can be secured .for the W.iirarapa, what an immense boon will have been conferred upon the district, a.:c upon the rising generation. But assuming that other districts "have stronger claim's, and the AVairarapi; doeg not secure this College, tho fact will still remain that a secondary institution of tho kind is to be providoc. in the North Island. This will enable those who obtain scholarships in the rural course in our District .High School to puraio their .studies in a well-equipped secondary school, and thus prepare themselves for those rural occupations upon which tlie future of the Dominion almost entirely depends. Wo maintain, therefore, that it is the duty and privilege of the Trust Lands Trustees to encourage tin District High Schools and other ichor,!;, with liberal grants for tho better development of -the agricultural course, and to provide scholarships which- shaii bo tenable at the Agricultural Collego, wherever ifc may be established. To attempt to disestablish tho District High School, ;uul to establish :.

I High School proper, is to attempt tin I foolish, for the very object of educationalists in endeavouring to divert the J thoughts of the young men from the overcrowded professions into moro'uti-litari.-ui channels would In; defeated. We have quite a sufficient number of lawyers, doctors' ami out-r l'-work ok-rts in the' Dominion for our immediite requirements. What we want are.men skilled in the handicraft?, and fortified with a knowledge of scientific agriculture. These cannot bp Kcured through High Schools and Universities. We would warn the people of Masterton, therefore, agu'nst any attempt which might be made to <=et up a system of ciasc education, for which there is no demand. Ft ip. all very ■well- for legal men to employ rophistry in dealing with important public questions. The. intelligent voters of Masterton are not going to -allow their estate to be filched from them by ispeciourj theorists or designing quacks. The meeting to be held in Masterton +e-niglit ; to digcugg a report which bar not even been analysed by tlie Trust or by experts, will bo an unutterable farce. The whole proceeding has the semblance of unadulterated noii'Senso. There is not one-tenth of the community which takes it seriously, nothing that can be said or done can have the slightest bearing upon the future policy of the Trust. The Trustees are a body of intelligent busine-sp men, in whom the public have every confidence. They are not likely to be influenced by the silly threats or pointed abuse cf those who-are ignorant; of the constitution and objects of the Trus't. The public is too jealous of its institutions, and too honourable in its dealings with public men, to allow the characters of these who conscientiously endeavour to do their duty by the people to be needlessly KSpOlTOtl.