The Waikato Times. TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 1879.

Waikato Times, Volume XIII, Issue 1035, 11 February 1879, Page 2

The Waikato Times.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 1879.

Equal and exact justice to all men, Of whatever state or persuasion, religious or political. • • * * ♦ Here shall the Press th.o People's right maintain, Unawed by inflrwnofl and imbribod by gain.

The result of the Nelson election m which Mr Adams has been returned m opposition to Mr Pitt by a majority of nearly a third is not a mere matter of local concern, but is of great interest to the whole colony. It is the result of the first pitched battle m any constituency between the secular and denominational parties which has occurred since the advocates of denominationalism have resorted to the threatened use oi a block vote to carry the elections and and obtain a majority m tbo House prepared to upset the present secular system of education, and substitute a denominational system m its place. The election wag fought out solely npon this question. Local matters were ignored. The two candidates at the hustings went fully and freely into thfih* views on this matter ami even •' Sleepy Hollow" for once wn.s warmed into a condition of fervid political excitement. The result has been that the'OenominaticnaHsia ha ye received a defeat, as wo believe they will do m nearly every part of the colony where the question '-s made the

hustings cry. The present system is working so satisfactorily, while chat sought to be substituted for it, were it even proved to be m itself the best suited for the educational requirements of the people, is so uttorly beyond the resourc93 of even the wealthiest community to adopt if thorough efficiency and a wide-spread working of tho system are to be secured, that a return to it id impossible. It h:iß been tried m New Zealand and found wanting. It has been abandoned at home as impracticable on a just and extended scale, and to change the system now would be a letrogtade movement m the march of education, that no free and enlightened people should consent to allow. The result of the Nelson election must be considered a matter for congratulation by all those who wish to see the fullest possible spread of education amongst the people of the colony. » ■ —