THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 5, 1913. AN ILL-ADVISED CIRCULAR.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXV, Issue 10713, 5 March 1913, Page 4

THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 5, 1913. AN ILL-ADVISED CIRCULAR.

While wo cannot subscribe to the form of protest entered by Mr A. W. Hogg, against the circular issued by the Education Department to Education Boards, wo are'thoroughly convinced that the contents of the circular are objectionable, and that a grave error of judgment was made in its being drafted at all. To suggest that holders of free places should be required to perform a duty which in law they are compelled to perform, is to cast a reproach upon th» free-place holders and the educational authorities. The Department has no right to assume that holders of free places are going to deliberately defy the law. Nor has it a right to make the pen-alty-for defiance, if such .should occur, a loss of educational facilities that is not provided lor in the Statute. The law states specifically what are the penalties for non-compliance with I the term.s_oi i the Defence Act. These do not Include the 'sacrifice of scholastic rights and privileges. The Department is, therefore, exceeding its functions when it suggests that Education Boards should make an observance of the terms of the Defence Act a condition under which free places and scholarships shall be held. It is the duty of the Defence Department, and not of Education Boards, to see that the Act is enforced. The position taken up by the Education Department is similar to that which 'ins arisen in the Old Country, wlioro it was sought to make tho granting of University degrees dependent upon military 'service. The latest cables tejl u ; that the proposal was vigorously resented by Cambridge University. And rightly, too; for it would impose a condition that was morally and constitutionally wrong. The Education Department might, witli equal reason, circularise the Education Boards, suggesting that any person who breaks the Gaming Act, or the Licensing Act, or any other Act, should be denied a free plr.ce. The I assumption that scholarship holders are law-breakers is unwarranted, and the Education Boards, jf they are possessed of the public spirit for '.which we give them credit, will toll the Department plainly that they regard such an assumption as impudent. As far as can be ascertained, theri? has been no disposition on the part of scholarship holders, or of holders of free places, to shirk their military ■ dutj. Had tliere been guch. a '

tian, the proper course to .have pursued uon !(i have been i 'or the i)e-i.-i.ee I)eparlinei:t to put the law into operation. We doubt very much r. hot her the Education Hoards, even if they were so disposed, liavo the legal power to make military serviee. a condition o[' the holding of a free place. ()j' Vouree, if ;i l'v-eo place holder were convicted of a breach of the Act, the Education Bna.nl might he justii'iod in withdrawing the educational privilege. 15ut it is the duty >f Lh.e Board to deal with individual eases as they an\e. and not to anticipate breaches of the law which may never occur. In the circumstances, we consider the Education Department's circular ill-advised, and we would strongly recommend its immediate withdrawal.