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Chronicle (Levin), 11 December 1947, Page 5

Press Association )

(Per

AIUKLANU, Dec. 1U. Education in New Zealand had majoi problems to face in tlie next few years said the Alinister of Education, Air AlcCombs, when addressing the Auek land Education Board todav. This year there were 50,000 birtlis but school accommodation was l)ased on an annual birthrate of 30,000 to 35,000. He added that there was no reason to expect the birthrate to fall, therefore 20 per cent. more primary schools and teachers "would have to be provided but it would be a tremendous job to maintain the standard of education. Concrete and steel were the nmin sliortages for the supply of new liuildings. Aleanwhile they had to push ahead with wooden buildings. Cabinet had discussed the use of the Ardmore aerodrome -buildings as a teinporary training college and school of engiqeering. With building materials short it would take five years building a training college. The Alinister said he favourcd schools vvhere trades and commercial courses wero taught a longside aeademic courses but thought there'were grounds for having separato agricultural schools. The difticulty in supplying textboo(ks was not in the printing but in the binding, he said, answering a question.