FREE PRIMARY EDUCATION HIGHLY PROFITABLE.
[To THE EDITOR OP THE " srzonaoa."3
Sin,—Permit me to say that our experience of the results from the education of the British people in the past, seems to warrant the extension of the system more thoroughly in the future. In 1848, before there was any systematic attempt by the State towards the education of the people, the paupers -of England and Wales were 1,700,000; but though the popula- tion has increased very largely, the number of paupers has fallen to 800,000, which, at a cost of 210 per head for main- tenance, effects a saving of 29,000,000 per annum. We find that both pauperism and crime, according to Parliamentary returns, have decreased by one-half, in proportion to the population, since 1870, We have now, for example, during that period lessened the number undergoing penal servitude by 4,739, and thus save the annual expense of 236 per head, besides the waste of their labour. This is only a small sample of the leakage that has been obviated. The case of the London School Board and its alleged extravagance may have a different -aspect, if viewed in the light of these facts.
I would humbly submit, Sir, that much of the special pleading in favour of so-called religious education is not in accordance with experience nor with facts. About sixty years since, the Church of Ireland and the Roman Catholic Church -condemned the National schools as a godless system, but the Irish Presbyterians became connected with the Board. Li the four Northern counties, the Episcopalians and Presby- terians are each about one-fourth of the population ; but the Roman Catholics are now responsible for 57 per cent. of the crime, the Episcopalians 28, and the Presbyterians 15 per cent. The proportions of illiteracy axe, respectively, 23, 12.9, and 5.6 per cent.
The clergy in Victoria are very strongly opposed to secular -education, which is entirely free, and under State supervision ; but the latest edition of ." Hayter's Statistics" shows that 'crime is much more prevalent (as drunkenness is also) amongst the immigrant than the locally educated population.
Though the suffrage is universal in Australia, the Govern- ment has effectually suppressed illegal combinations to pre- Tent others from working who were satisfied with the terms mutually agreed upon.—I am, Sir, &c.,
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