The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-04-25
Progressive NEW xEALAND.
Seattle, April q, 1900

Seattle. April q, 1900
To the Editor: I have read, in your
issue Of this morning. with the utmost as
constituent the lugubrious yarn headed
l.. Smith. the young carpenter from New
Zealand. has poured into the ears of your
reporter
According to the statement OF this gem
tieman New Zealand is a first rate coun-
try to have done with. II IL hard work
for a poor man TO educate himself there.
for we have no free schools. such
as you have the Maoris are slowly but
surely dying out the colony Is Fin the
dark ages" and generally going to the
bad
Speaking as an American, long resident
In the Australian colonies, all this strikes
me as a triie queer. New Zealand has
the reputation of being the progressive
colony of the Australasian group. Here
We have manhood and womanhood suf-
frage, old-age pensions, compulsory arbi-
tration--as shown, sir, In your excellent
editorial Of this same issue-and other
legislative ensctments which nowhere else
have got beyond the discussion stage. To
hear. therefore. New Zealand thus dealt
with affects me very much as an Ameri-
can would be In foreign country II he
should hear Kansas people, say. spoken OF
as slow. oid-fogyish.' and given 10 sium-
bering at noon time.
/
space to the extent OF a brief paragraph
relating TO the present school, system OF
New Zealand. about which Mr. Smith In 30
Respondent. The colony has an education
al system which Is entirely secular and
free. As in other colonies. there II sep
arate department OF education. presided
over By a responsible minister Of the
crown. The whole colony is divided into
school districts. very much as IN the
American states. Omitting private and
deuomsnstfonai schools. OF which there are
very large number, New Zealand has
Of state schools i.axa giving employment
to 35i5 teachers. or an average OF one
school 10 every 10 children OF school age.
In districts where there are no European
children native schools are maintained for
tbs. Maori children. Secondary education
II provided for BY the high schools. col
isges and grammar schools and the Uni-
versity Of New Zealand. which liz en-
powered TO confer the same degrees as the
universities Of oxford and Cambridge eK-
cept as TO divinity. OF secondary schools
the ealony has twenty -four. with a teach
ing stat Of ISL These schools are not al
together the charges Of the state. about
half their income being derived from fees
q students and the remainder from eba0w-
naents mostly from the state. In the
line of technical education the colony has
not been b@hind. II has one ~ the beat
equipped agricultural colleges In the col
onl.s, az Canterbury. a school Of mines In
connection with the University Of Otaxo.
aud two other schools 0f mines In mining
districts Generally state aid j. given 10
Glasses started. IN the cities or eisew here.
for the purpose 81 instruction IN branches
OF science and art workshops have been
established ia connection with some of
the public schools In connection with
the South Ksnsingson Museum and the
city and Guilds institute examinations. 81
passes were secured IN iSs. according 70
Siatistieian Coghian. from whose Seven
Colonies Of Australasia" these facts are
for the most part obtained. think. Mr..
Editor. that have given facts sufficient
to show that Il il not impossible for a poor
man to educate himself IN far-or New
Zealand II IL hard work" as Mr. smlth
will find. 20 educate oneself anywhere
but not more 40 IN the colony he speaks
so slightinEiy of than elsewhere.
But the most remarkable statement
made in the course Of this interview is