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There is another thing I would like to 'talk about, and I should have said in the beginning "what I have to say to-night will be brief. I felt that I must say something about this other mat- ter because it is one that has had a great deal of attention in the press and throughout the pro- _ vince as a whole. I have dealt briefly with how we propose to do something to improve condi- tions at the top, if you will, out in the rural sec- tion. I would like to review again very briefly * the suggestions we have in regard to improve- ment at the bottom or in the elementary stages of our rural education, because I want to em- phasize this fact, that I am more deeply concern- ed about educational conditions in the rural parts of this province than I am about any other phase of education. There is no difficulty creating organizations in a city: no difficulty finding staff and students and means to carry on here. - But out in the scattered portions of Ontario, where we must retain our people, where we must give them sufficient advantage that they will be will- ing to stay there, because they realize that their boys, their growing children, are not being dis- criminated against, are to have the best possible opportunity. This great army of 90 per cent. or more of our student population today must have special consideration at the hands of any Depart- ment of Education, no mattér what government may be in power in 'this province, I don't know how you feel about it but from the news that reaches me occasionally, I fancy there is a great deal of feeling about the amount of debt and the weight of taxes that we have in the Province of Ontario. We spend a great deal of money in education, and it is an excellent invest- ment, In no way can our money be spent to greater advantage, but this money has to be raised from the pockets of the ratepayers of the Province of Ontario, and there is no reason why we should be extravagant 'or wasteful." There is every reason why we should economize to the very limit consistemt with efficiency, and with those thoughts in mind the Department have been searching--and we have given a great deal of at- tention to it in the last two and a half years since I have been directly at the head of the Depart- ment, to see if something cannot be done to cut down' the cot of carrying on elementary educa- tion in the rural parts of the province, to see if some means cannot be found whereby the rural pupils will get education with even greater ef- ficiency at a much reduced cost. I have made the suggestion and I have asked the rural people and the trustees to discuss it and to make an alternative suggestion if they do not agree with it. My duty, as I said to you a while ago, is not to impose my views upon you but to throw them out to you for consideration, to seek your approval, if I can convince you I am right. If you think I am wrong I have no quarrel with you about -it, because the bill-goes to you in any event. You are the people who have to pay it. The Problem of the Small School We have a remarkable condition for anyone who surveys in rural Ontario with regard to ele- mentary schools. - I think we have got about 5600 public rural schools; something like that. We have upwards of 5000 one-roomed schools scattered all over the farming districts of Ontario. In seven of those there is only one pupil a day. In over 700 there are less than ten. I have a case of it in my own county where a school teacher, a Joune girl, told me during the summer 'that she ad one pupil coming to her, and I asked her what she spent her time at, and she said when they were not reading stories she was knitting or some- thing else. Is it not a farce to attempt to train or-educate a- community under those -eonditions? From the material standpoint alone of cost would it not be better for that school section to pay that pupil's expense, $100 or $150 a year, to take him to the next school section? But we have seven schools like that and we have something like 700 schools who have an attendance of less than ten. You have only to look at the comparative costs to see what a huge saving it is. The figures are "available. I won't attempt to give them to you at length tonight, but the cost to educate those in those seven schools is about three times _ "what it is on the average for the whole province. In the small schools there is not only a high cost but surely there is not much efficient education. : cannot be. There cannot be the usual Stitaulus and interest that comes from the co- ling of large classes. The teacher cannot be with her opportunities day after day i Huilled to see those half -a dozen: ~The whole thing is wrong from the standpoint "of enthusiasm and interest, and you cannot make 'a success of any purpose or organization unless you have enthusiasm _for it. Take your own child- ren--the boy or girl who does not like their teacher does not want to go to school. You can- not drive them to school and if they do go they a of 'interest ifi their work and they "about it all the time. Enthusiasm for hip in education is just as important as it n business or in trade or in any other calling: 'and you can only get hat x where you have cient number of pupils to stimulate. -the : Jnterest of a teacher in the work she is all schools where 'the at ph is stralgitfor Sehool Boards Bill : all who are responsible for Rural Schools. ~work: A Whi OR school board worl _ your weak school, but:it ty, as: L say; we Jaye too the a ia should be read by yvear--not a great many years ago, and hey amalgamated and put themselves under one board and they operate more efficiently than they ever did and more economically than they possibly could. The same thing obtained in the City of Hamilton. Now it obtains all over the Province of Ontario in the towns and cities. You are not getting uniform common standards or common expenditures under your present system in rural' schools. My own view is we have out-grown, it. | I am giving you this as my view. If you want to keep it I am going to let you keep it, but I want you to understand you are keeping it on your own Judgment and you will have to pay for it. Constructive Criticism Although I have 'talked about this thing for a year and a half or more, I am bound to say I have had very little satisfaction. I have had a great many resolutions telling me you are unanimously opposed to it-- (laughter and applause) --but that does not help the problem any. I want you to realize it is not the Department of Education's problem; it is your problem; it is the people's problem, and we are only trying to help you solve it, and if you cannot take our suggestion--for heaven's sake, make some of your own; (Hear, hear, applause.) It serves no good purpose to send me resolutions by mail. Suggest something that can be done. Suggest anything at all that will help us work out this important problem. Just another word and I am through. The im- pression seems to have got abroad that the sug- gestion to enlarge the unit of administration to township area meant consolidated schools. It does not mean anything of the sort, unless you want to consolidate it. I may say to you now; so-long as I am at the head of the Department there will be 1o official under my direction ever ask yau to con- solidate it. We will give you-all the information about it but you will make up your own mind. I get blamed for enough things without being blamed for that. (Laughter and applause.) I am bound to say under the old system the rural trustees have done splendid service, have done wonderful work, speaking as a whole,all over the province. It is not a complaint about the efficiency of the work of the trustees; it is a criti- cism of the general organization, the basis upon which you are operating. In a township of eight or ten sections, I am bound to say that in my belief if you elected one trustee from each section to meet as a central board and consider the whole school problem of that township, you would get much better results. (Applause) You would not only get uniformity, but you would get your schools properly placed to give better service as-time went on. There would "not be any uprooting of school buildings 'but as time went on and the usefulness of a school passed away it would be re-adjusted to fit con- ditions. You would get that to begin with. You would get cheaper equipment, if you sere buying, in large quantities. You would get a uniform rate throughout the township, which is my idea of school taxation. The quicker we realize that the poor unfortunate chap who is living on a poor farm in a remote section of a township is just as good a citizen as you are and I am and has just as much claim, the sooner we will realize our duty as citizens of Ontario-- (hear, hear.)--and uniformity of rate in township, the abler back would be helping to bear the burden of the weaker section. After all, surely we are desirous of co- operating as citizens to build up this country. We are not all selfish enough that we want to advance our own personal interests. The fellow who does that, he may amass some wealth but when he dies there arenighty few people to follow him to the cemetery, and those who do forget him shortly afterward (Laughter) --But the-man who has done something for his community, the man who has shown co-operation and interest in the wel- fare of the people around about him, the man who has been willing to help the weaker brother, he has gained a place and reputation that lives {ong after him and is a matter of pride to the children and his neighbours. That is the sort of man we should try and educatg and train in the of Ontario. PAS. And so, I say, I was led to the conclusion that we should have unifor rates over a township to raise the money to be hsed by school board say 'township' because i seventeen or -eightee: i would 'cut it in two. Lwould "not have bulky, unwieldy number. % Why would not { 'work out just as] township council on ordinary municipal kidd You strike a rate on your township and you build a road and John Smith, who may be as poor as a| church mouse but he gets advantage of the road. Why should not he get advantage of a school ? Not only would it level your "ate, eliminate i would make.it. possible] in every community right out in the rura tmos- phere to have secondary educatic : secondary education right 'have country high schools, if. 'that everybody is clamoring fi more about as Minister of vince The difference between a successful year and an unsu ul one is say about 15%. Think how easily you can increase your sales 5%, 10%: or 15%: this year by plan- ning to go after business systematically, by Long Distance! Every day we receive new. evidence from mer- chants in medium-sized towns, who have tried it for the first time and are "surprised at their SU CeSS. Here is a recent case-- "Number of sales, 17; number who subsequent- ly bought, 27; total amount of sales, $1,233; total cost of 44 calls $27.15; percentage of selling cost, 2.2. Try Long Distance selling -- and co vince yourself. A i TANCE \ TELEPHONE NOTICE TO CREDITORS Of Thomas McDermott, Deceased. Pursuant to Sec. 56 of Chapter 121 of the Revised Statutes of Ontario, creditors a against the eptate of Dermott, Tote of the C artwright, in the County of Durham, Thomas Mec- before the 8rd day of June A.D. 1926, & Harris, Barristers, Port Perry, Ont. Soolicitors for E. Maude Crosier, the Administratrix of the Estate of the and surnames, addresses and descrip- tions, the full particulars of their claims, a statement of their accounts and the nature of the security (if any) held by them, and that after the day last aforesaid the said E. Maude Crosier will-proceed to distributé the assets of the said déceased among the parties entitled thereto having regard only to such claims. of which notice shall have been given as above re- quired, and_the said B. Maude Crosier will not be liable for the said assets or any part thereof, to any person or persons of whose claim or claims notice shall not have been received by Harris ,& Harris at the time of such distribution. Dated at Port Perry, Ont., this 3rd day of May. A.D. 1926. HARRIS & HARRIS, Solrs. for Thos. McDermott Estate, Port Perry, Ont. mre QQ | PRINCE ALBERT =Wonder if there will be a budget ever that will satisfy everyone? This circuit was represented at the Cobourg Presbytery held in Port Hope last week. Mrs. Reuben Bond, who. spent. the winter with friends' in' "the City, re- turned home last week. Mr. and Mrs, S. Porteous and Miss Erma, who spent the winter, at Shir- ley, have returned to their home in the village, Mr. -Alvin- Hunter- has disposed -of a number of his first-class fowl. Off came the storm windows on 'Saturday, On Monday we heard: r wish I had left them on for a few 1914, notice is hereby given that all : others having claims Township of [# Teamster, who died on or about the s 9th day of April A.D. 1926, are, on or | # to-send by post, "pre-paid; to Harris{#" said deceased their christian names |% 10 lbs. Sugar 67c. IN MEMORIAM Corner--In loving memory of os dear daughter and sister, Maude, who departed this life on the 2nd of Mant + 1924; Loving and kind in all her ways; Upright and just to the end of her days; Sincere and true in heart and mind. A beautiful memory left behind. She had a nature you couldn't help loving, A heart that-was purer than gold, And to those who knew her and loved her, Her memory will never grow cold. Sadly: missed by Father," Mother, Sister and Brother. Ee a. FOR SALE In the village of Prince Albert, six roomed frame housé with attached kitchen, half acre garden, small barn. Apply Rev, J. W. Bunner, Frankford, | Ont. RR4 EE -We have the lar; i and Wall Pa er SI have ever Dinning Room. or Halls" +S at 12}c yoll, °F LOOR COVERINGS Floor Oilcloths at 50c. per sq. yd in the following widthe--1, 1}, 13, 2, 2} yds, Printed Lingleums, $1.00 per sq. yd.--5 good patterns in 4 yds. wide. 1 good. pattern in 3 yds. wide. GROCERIES Thistle Brand Tomatoes, 2 for 25¢. © Special Soap Deal--8 Bars you. PHONE 209 PORT PERRY and 8ix qua Gold, Comfort, P. & G. and. Surprise Soap, 8 bars for 48c. Handy Ammonia 2 for 15¢. : Pure Lard 21c. 1b. Comfort Soap, 2 Bars Pearl N 12% kettle. Brooms, good genliey, 4 49c. Tours a & rl NOW is the time to book your order to have your 11 house painted and decorated. Get in before the rush, : wi - Wall Papers that Please i Never before have we had such a fine lot of samples, at such prices, as they are this year. Best Quality manufacture, and the price will surprise W. WARD 40c. and 0c, Living Room Paper at at 29¢. 1 Tapestry and Shadow treatments handsomely 3 Tembsed, in good Patterns for Living Room Lat 29¢. roll. Room Lots of 'Bedroom; Wall; Papers at 124 roll You will find in this lot many our best selling Patterns ate18¢. and 20¢, voll, but in order to keep all small lots cleared out we offer them 'Thistle Brand Corn, 2 for 25c. aptha $1 29 | They are of the Painter & Decorator CHIROPRACTIC] The Drugless Road to Health J. A. HETHERINGTON __ CHIROPRACTOR Monday, Wednesday and Friday = from 2 to § p.m. w and Mrs, Eo McDonald, of COMING Dr. F. E. Luke, Optometrist, 167 Fu Yonge St., Toronto, may be consulted i about your eyes for glasses at A. J. 'Davis', drug store, Port Perry, on Saar Thursday, May 20th. Every PICTURE ibis Tuesdy