THE HIGHWAYMAN.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XVI, Issue 4968, 6 March 1895, Page 3

THE HIGHWAYMAN.

[to tiik i;iutoi:.] Sii,,—lt is a question, at the present lime, who is really the more dangerous, the highwayman with his knife, or the many scared individuals who are looking for him with formidable weapons aud lire-arms, ft is very probable, there would be less danger in meeting the fleeing outlaw, to being within shooting distance

of his pursuers, many of whom are careless with and unused to the weapons of death which they may feel disposed to carry about. Parents have evidently lired their sons with the same spirit, for it is a known fact that boys have become possessed of revolvers, etc., carrying the same with them in careless attitudes. One such youth, a schoolboy of about 14, carried a formidable six shooter about with him at night, mixing freely with other boys to whom he exposed the deadly weapon, the danger of which be was so little aware. This is carrying the highwayman business a little too far. One careless person, with firearms, is I a greater danger to the populace, than six outlaws armed with butchers' knives Trusting parents, who have firearms within the reach of tlrjir younger sons, will enqnire ot and warn them ; otherwise aetion will have to.be taken for carrying arms without a license within the , Borough.—l am, etc., , Bi,u.niii:iii;us,v March Gth, 1895. RETRENCHMENT IN EDUCATION.

[TO THE KMTOIij,

Sin, —In view of tlie general depression which exists throughout i New Zealand at the present time, a with no prospect of a betterment of our condition, the subject of economy and retrenchment in the public ser- 1 vice will occupy a prominent-position J I in the minds of all thinking people. The enormous expense of our present system of education, could, in the opinion of many, undergo a judicious pruning with advantage to the general taxpayer without impairing its efficiency. It is questionable, indeed, whether under the i most prosperous circumstances it would be a wise policy to act in the lavish manner which obtains in this department, but certainly in the present state of our public finances, it seems almost wicked extravagance. The first and chief item will bo the reduction of salaries all round, t am aware that this suggestion will be the reverse of what is called ; " popular "—it may have to be faced nevertheless. That the salaries of teachers is out of all proportion to the work they do will be apparent to anyone who cares to inquire into the matter, For example, the teacher of a school with an average attendance of say sixty-five pupils, receives from four to five pounds per week, that is to say for five days' work, averaging six hours per day, or thirty hours per week; besides which lie receives bouse rent free and something like two months' holidays during the year. In larger schools the pay of the head teacher is on a still

more extravagant scale, although ' the actual work is really less than iu the smaller schools. Under these circumstances it is not at all surprising that there are plenty of candidates for this brunch of the service. ', But I contend that this condition ' of things cannot last. Other occupations more arduous, more wear- | iug, and in some cases requiring as much or more special training, receive far less remuneration. School ' teachers would, I have no doubt, 1 readily aquiesee in any reasonable ; retrenchment of this kind, when ' they consider that this is a time ' when the struggle for bread is becoming cruelly accentuated amongst the musses. They—like all others— B must bear llicirsharc in the decadence 3 of prosperity which has set in all over the Colony,and which threatens 1 us with a. period of depression never '■ before experienced in New Zca- : hind.

1 will now pass on (o the nextimportant factor in the reform of om

unwieldy system of education-the raising of school age. It is high time thai the pernicious practice of sending infant children—particularly female children—to the Public Schools was put a- stop to, as well on the grounds of humanity as economy. The evil effects of this practise is incalculable; the children learn practically nothing at school of good value whatever, but they I unfortunately pick up a good deal on tho playground and going to and coming from the school. The innocence of childhood is corrupted, and the worst forms of precocity engendered at a time when tliey should be constantly under the parental inliuence. Personally, 1 would like to see the school age lixed at not less than eight years, and I believe the effect would be a higher moral status in the rising generation, (. must not encroach too much on your valuable space, as I fear I have already done, A great deal might be said, that cannot he even glanced at in a letter like this. 1 will just say in conclusion, 1 agree with many ) have spoken to on this subject, that it is better to he prodigal in our expenditure on education, .than to hand over whatever saving might hp ' effected by the reforms I have mentioned, and other 'reforms that I could mentiou, to Inspectors and , hangers-on of the Government, who i seem created to absorb tho tax- - payers' njoney, without giving anything tangible in return for it.—l am, etc., JjtaESCHMISNT. [lji obtaining school teachers, it is 0 wise jtjiing to pay a good price for 1 .a good article, Why not retroncb, instead, a thoußajod and one pro- | teges of the .present %y,er#/nent, ' who have been .useless 1 nantjL unnecessary offices.—lfo.)