THE EDUCATIONAL VOTE.

Clutha Leader, Volume IV, Issue 207, 28 June 1878, Page 6

THE EDUCATIONAL VOTE.

The following circular letter from the Education Department has been published :

I am directed to request that your Board will be good enough to prepare and forward, as soon as convenient, an estimate of receipts and expenditure for next financial year, beginning July Ist, 1878, in accordance with section 39 of the Education Act. ' I am to furnish the following information for the guidance of your Board in the preparation of its estimate, namely : — ln to the statutory grant of L 3 15s per head, Government intend to propose to Parliament the passing of the following special votes : —

(1) A vote to enable them to make a payment to Boards at the rate of 10s per annum for every child in average daily attendance, such payment to be distributed by the Board among the school committees for educational purposes. (2) A vote to enable them to make payments to the Board at the rate of Is per head for every child in average daily attendance, and for the establishment and maintenance of scholarships in accordance with section 51 of the Act. (3) A vote of L 40,000 for distribution amongst the several Boards, with a view to encourage, and enable them to make provision for the efficient instruction of the scholars under their control. (4) A vote of L7OOO in aid of training institutions at Ahckland, Wellington, Christchurch, and Dunedin, for education and training of teachers for the schools of the Colony irrespective of education district boundaries. (5) A vote in aid of tlie erection, completion, enlargement, and f urnishing of school btuldings.

I niay point out that 42 of the Act provides that, Bpeeial. fees for higher education shah. forepart of the Boai*d fund, and I may al&o request your Board's

attention to sections 4-2 and 80, which provide that the Board fund and School fund respectively shall include donations and subscriptions, as well as other moneys that may be granted for educational purposes, as explained by circular No. 7- The capitation payments to Boards will be made by monthly instalments according to actually ascertained average attendance. It will be necessary for Boards to show that moneys granted for special purposes are expended by them on the objects so specified. It is scarcely necessary to remind your Board that beyond the moneys above mentioned there will be no funds at the disposal of the Government for distribution among the Education Boards, and that it will be absolutely necessary for ijßoards to regulate their expenditure for the year that it shall not exceed their income for same period. It is also to be understood that the ability of Government to grant moneys for the special purposes herein mentioned will depend upon the will of the Legislature. — John Hislop.