As to the mode of raising the Educational rates, the
opinion of Conference seemed to be decidedly in favour of subscriptions where possible, then of rates, to be raised, Mr. Forster advises, by an Educational Board, composed, advises Mr. Auberon Herbert, of Magistrates and Guardians, that is, of nominees and elected mem- bers. It was suggested that the richer districts might aid the poorer, and that landowners might be allowed to place rent- charges on their estates for schools—a thoroughly unwise idea. Endowed schools are bad schools, and the ratepayers are wanted to take an interest in education. Little or nothing was said as to the proportion of aid to be rendered by the State, but Mr. Forster, we are glad to see, spoke strongly on the expediency of raising the school age from thirteen to fourteen. He recognized% the difficulty of alteration, but thought, as an employer, it might be done.
