Chapter 39: Newspaper Publication
Translator: 549690339 |
September 27th, 1900, Sydney Street.
On this day, David Corliss was walking home from work as usual. As an ordinary person with no special skills, he was fortunate to have entered the selection process for the Sydney Police and was hired.
Although he’s now only in the training phase, he can still earn over two pounds a month to support his family.
Getting this job made David Corliss very satisfied, so he worked enthusiastically and passionately in his training every day.
Passing a newsstand, David Corliss instinctively glanced at the stall, originally just a casual look, but he didn’t expect all the newspapers on the newsstand to be the same, and there was also a thoughtful billboard next to it, saying that His Royal Highness Arthur has a new policy.
Wait, Your Highness?
Full of questions, David Corliss backed up and picked up a newspaper, taking out a penny under the watchful eyes of the stall owner and handed it to him.
With the newspaper in hand, David Corliss’ carefree expression was long gone. Although he was still walking down the street, his eyes were fixed on the newspaper as if he wanted to see everything in it.
Finally, after more than ten minutes’ journey, David Corliss rushed home.
This house was located in the suburbs of Sydney. Although the house looked a bit old, David Corliss’ family simply decorated it with flowers and plants, making it feel somewhat warm and welcoming.
“David!” Hearing the sound, David Corliss’ wife came out first, smiling and handing him a glass of water. “How was the training today? Your superiors didn’t give you any trouble, did they?”
“Haha, why would they do that? The training today went smoothly, and the boss paid me this month’s salary. Look, exactly two pounds, five shillings, and three pennies!” David Corliss handed his salary to his wife with a smile, while speaking.
“Oh, thank God for giving you such a good job! Plus the food we get, we’ll have a comfortable New Year.” David Corliss’ wife took the salary from David with a surprised face, and gratefully said.
“You should thank His Royal Highness, Emily. If not for him, you wouldn’t have received so much free food, and I wouldn’t have found such a high-paying job.” David Corliss promptly interrupted his wife’s incorrect remarks and corrected her.
“Oh, yes, please forgive me.” Emily immediately corrected her mistake and apologetically said to her husband.
“Alright, Emily. Go and prepare dinner. I want to take a good look at this newspaper. It is said that His Royal Highness has a new policy.” David Corliss picked up his beloved newspaper and instructed his wife.
With all the newspapers in Australia being integrated into one by Arthur, the once chaotic and un-unified newspaper industry in Australia was basically controlled by him.
Currently, there are two major newspapers in Australia, the Australia Daily, which focuses on lifestyle and entertainment, and the Victoria News, which focuses on political news.
Although the two newspapers are responsible for their own areas on a daily basis, when the government and the royal family have important policies and announcements, they will work together to print the important news.
The newspaper David Corliss got today was the Victoria News. However, because it was a special day, the content of both newspapers was the same, regardless of the type.
Picking up the newspaper, a very prominent headline appeared on the front page, boldly stating Arthur’s Educational Policy.
When it came to education, David Corliss’ already serious heart became even more concerned. He quickly concentrated and began to read the news word by word without missing a single letter.
The content of the news was actually quite simple. It mainly talked about Arthur’s several reforms in education and the corresponding welfare policies.
Not only the previously agreed upon university admissions, but in order to improve Australia’s basic education environment, Arthur will invest at least two million pounds a year for ten years, encouraging all Australian families to send their school-age children to school for learning.
To this end, the royal family will pay at least forty percent of tuition fees for each child, and children who perform well can be exempted from all tuition and miscellaneous fees.
In order to accommodate poorer families, Arthur promised to provide interest- free loans to students from impoverished families to meet their learning needs.
Scholarships will also be set up in all schools nationwide, with the number of places accounting for about ten percent of the total school population.
Under various policies, a large number of concessions have been made for both primary and higher education students, basically eliminating the problem of wanting to go to school but not being able to afford it.
It can be imagined that the new round of Australian school enrollment will be full, especially in basic education, which doesn’t cost much. There would definitely be a large number of students enrolling.
Although most Australians are part of the poor population, they have all immigrated from Europe and understand the importance of education, especially basic education.
Given the choice, these people would also choose to give their offspring a good education, so as not to fall behind others at the starting line.
“Oh! Emily! Emily! Come here!” Seeing this, David Corliss became a little flustered and hurriedly called his wife.
“What’s wrong? What happened?” Emily quickly walked over and asked her husband in amazement.
“Damn, look at this, Emily! His Highness is investing in improving education conditions. Now’ our children can go to school!” David Corliss excitedly exclaimed.
“Where? Where?” Emily also got closer, looking all around.
“The royal family promises to pay seventy percent of tuition and can pay the remaining thirty percent on behalf of us, allowing us to repay it after graduation?” Emily read with disbelief in her eyes.
“Scholarship established at the Australian National University that selects at least 200 students of good character and rewards them with at least ten pounds of scholarships?” Reading to this point, Emily couldn’t remain composed anymore, and incredulously asked, “Oh my God,
David, these students’ scholarships are almost half your annual income. Does this mean that going to university not only costs nothing but could actually make money?”
“Yes, dear. Not only can Rick go to university, we might not even have to pay!” David Corliss nodded heavily and said to his wife.
Rick Coles was the only son of David Corliss and his wife Emily, and their pride.
At just 19 years old, Rick Coles was already an enviable high school graduate. However, due to the family’s inability to afford the high cost of university, he had to reluctantly give up.
But now it seemed that Rick might still have a chance to go to university, and even without having to spend money on it.