EDUCATION DEPARTMENT.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16154, 7 March 1918, Page 7

EDUCATION DEPARTMENT.

MINISTER'S REPLY TO

COMPLAINTS

(press association telegram.)

WELLINGTON, March G

Speaking at the opening of an addition to the Karori school this afternoon, the Minister of Education (the ' Hon. J. A. Hanan) said demands were being made for new schools, and blame was being attached to the Education Department for not providing money to enable old and out-of-date buildings to be replaced. The duty of replacing worn out schools was not an obligation on the Department, as the Department, since 1903, provided an annual vote for that work, based on the number of years allowed for tho lite of a woodon building, and the percentage of the capital value, and the Boards had substantial balances in hand for replacements. it had been pointed out to tho -Minister that certain schools had been aJiowed to fall into disrepair. Xhe Education Department paiu an annual grant to the Boards for maintenance. lie wanted to make these facts clear in order that people might understand the position of the Department and that tho blame should not always bu placed on the shoulders of the Minister.

Dealing with the vexed question of school books, the Minister said the parents of children attending secondary schools had most reason for complaint, lie thought too much freedom in the matter or the selection of books had been allowed to the controlling authorities. He had no control over the selection; if he had he would certainly deal with what he regarded as an abuse. He had a certain amount of control over books for primary schools, because he had to approve of tho list from which books might be adopted by the boards, with the approval of the inspectors.

Regarding the payment of tcachcrs, the scale of salaries of primary school tcachcrs was fixed by Statute, hut ho had little control over the salaries of secondary school teachers. All he could do was to see that these teachers were paid certain minimum salaries, but the fixing of maximum salaries was left entirely tp the High School authorities. He had, through tho Government and Parliament, made provision for largo sums for education, and ho thought it desirable that the Education Department, through, the Minister, should have power to exercise more supervision over expenditure in tho interests of taxpayers. It was not correct that the education vote had been cut. down; last year's estimates show a substantial increase on the estimates of the previous year.