EDUCATION BOARD FINANCE.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 51, 23 November 1907, Page 3

EDUCATION BOARD FINANCE.

;.. NO MONEY FOR': SCHOOL SITES. ."In view r f the fact that-the ordinary building grants include ho sum for the purchase of sites, that steadily increasing-'expenditure 'is'.required for maintenance and rebuilding,' and that in the near future additional sites will be 'required—rlocs the Board acquiesce in the practice recently sought to be established, that half .the cost of sites, should' be provided?" • The foregoing was a proposition'which appeared on Iho Order Taper at the. Education Hoard's meeting yesterday. The chairman pointed out that the Government had expressly stated in writing that no portion of the building grant could bo expended on the purchase of sites. They were, faced with the possibility of heavy disbursements iiulhe purchase of sites, and their contract liabilities, which included . sites, totalled no less than JE323G i)s. id. In view of tho Department's injunction, he could not see how they could possibly carry oil their present programme. ,'■ ./ Mr,. Field considered, that they, should not be asked to find the money. If the Government thought that .it was: necessary for them to purchase sites,' then it should advance the money. If it did not think .the sites were necessary, then they must bo prepared to do without them.;' Mr. Hogg snid that. if they, went to the Minister lie would 110 doubt tell them how they diet things in Audklnnd. ■ If the residents of a district wanted a school they-assisted-mat-ters by finding a site. Personally he thought that. the. Board should endeavour to meet tho Government-by finding at least a part of-tlio money. , ''.".- Mr. Allan referred to the pitiable, condition of many of the'school buildings and residences. There was enough to be done in repairing to keep their building fund fully taxed. It was annoying to think that when they approached the Minister with a request for money they were faced with tho prospect of being treated like naughty boys. During the next three years they would, if the educational needs of the district wore to bo properly met, have to find, about .£SOOO. 'Where was the.money to come from ? ' , On the motion of Mr. Field, it was resolved that "the Board resolves not to make a practice in future of.providing, out of the ordinary building grant, any portion of the cost of school sites other than those the subject of resolutions already passed by tho Board."