EDUCATION GRANTS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVI, Issue 32, 7 February 1905, Page 6

EDUCATION GRANTS.

EXPENDITURE OF SCHOOL GRANTS. STATEMENT. BY THE PREMIER. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) NELSON, Monday. Replying to a deputation „here on Saturday night, the Premier evidently referred to a statement recently telegraphed from Invercargill to the effect that there was a desire on the part of the Education Department to centralise all authority in Wellington. He said the Government had no wish to trench upon the functions of education boards, and did not desire to centralise. In some districts money was not spent properly, and he had to be watchful. At Tauranga, in shifting a school half mile away, and then shifting it back again, £1100 had been spent, and in Wellington £13,000 had been taken from building grants, and spent on technical schools, primary schools being left without repairs. This was wrong. The Boards were naturally expected to spend the grants to the best advantage, and if they did not the (Government might have, to spend lhe money. He wis-bed to give a. warning. They did. not wish to interfere or to centralise, but they did wish tv see the- m<ii)<-v spent in the best interests of tire children.