in the El Dorado of the West. Many
schemes and laws have its lustre; but they have the brassy sound of the
neo-pagan state-monopoly ideal. This thought of the supremacy of State
in matters of education permeates Dr. Foght's report from cover to
cover. In general, legislation is looked upon in our new Provinces as
the universal panacea for all evils. The West is the land of
experimental legislation. In this we should not imitate our younger
sisters. Let us beware of fads! Let us never forget that legislation,
to be just and beneficial, should but help the individual and the
family in the forwarding of their true interest and in the protection
of their inalienable rights.

This extent of State Monopoly is noticeable in two of the most
important recommendations of Dr. Foght's report. They are the
enlargement of school districts, so that the limits of the district
will coincide with those of the municipality, and the consolidation of
rural schools. Reasons of better administration and great efficiency,
no doubt, militate in favour of this change. Particularly
"Consolidation" is on a working basis in many Provinces. But the great
danger we see in this change is the placing of primary schools further
away from the influence of the parents. The school ceases, to a great
extent, to be "the extension of the home." The control of the parents
is less direct. The doors are wide open to State interference.

These are the lessons we may take from the "Better School Movement" in
Saskatchewan. Let us accept the invitation and heed the warning.

* * * * * *

One parting word.--Let the people of Nova Scotia be up and doing! The
West is draining the East to its advantage. Your sons and daughters
are doing the thinking for those new Provinces and creating another
Dominion beyond our Lakes. If conditions are not changed, the
Provinces "down by the sea" will lose their influence and cease to play
their part around the family table of our vast Dominion. "Light comes
from the East"--our Maritime people will proudly claim. "Yes! . . .
and it travels westward!" . . . answers the Westerner.

[1] This chapter is the substance of a lecture given in Antigonish,
N.S., at the Educational Conference, Aug. 11, 1919.

CHAPTER X.

UNICUIQUE SUUM[1]

_Principle on which should be Based the Division of Company-Taxes
between Public and Separate Schools._

When a point of law is ever bef