they say, “ cast their shadows before,” and that was just what the Premier had told them. He had sent out this order as a political kite to see what way the wind of public-opinion blew, and by now he found out that its string bad been cut, and his kite either fell to the ground or was carried to regions unknown, possibly to Jupiter, Saturn or some far off planet. If, however. Parlia ment sanctioned the pr posed order, and altered the Education Act, then a threefold result he thonghc would ensue. First it will materially reduce the number of pupils, and secondly as a natural consequence it will re duce both the pay and tho number of assistant teachers, and thirdly it will add to the numbers in the high schools or district high schools, and possibly there will be an in crease in the number of district high schools, for there will be a certain percentage of parents who would not rest satisfied with the amount of knowledge their children ac quired m the sixth standard. If they wanted to prosecute their studies further they must go either to the high schools or district high schools, arid in order that such schools might be available to resi dents in the country, the Bill that was carried by a majority of 13 in the last Parliament must be given effect to —nameiy, free passes on the railways to pupils attending such schools. For the information of those who might not have followed the debates of the House he mentioned that the late Govern ment opposed this Bill, and as it did not go to tlie Upper House and receive the assent of the Government it did not become law. But the will of the country—expressed through its representatives in the House —was clear on that point.- He wrote to tho lata member (Captain Sutter) about it, and he in due course asked the Government to have it ap plied to the Timaru High School, but un fortunately it was just on the eve of the dis solution, and he (Mr Smyth) heard no more about it, but he assured them that he did not intend to let the matter drop. 