The education ministries of the Hon. Josiah Alfred Hanan, 1912 and 1915-1919

The trend of educational progress in New Zealand has been modified by the historical, political and economic conditions existing from time to time. The development of the national system of education since its inception in the 1877 Act has proceeded at a varying pace owing to the variety of motives of those controlling education and the obstacles which they had to face. Except for a few phases in the history of this development, the moves were not well thought out or planned. Education progressed by an assortment of policies good and bad, by natural growth and by legislative accidents. Although this study of education is concerned with the administration of a single Minister during the years 1912 and 1915 to 1919 it will be necessary briefly to consider the educational background during the years 1877 to 1898.