EDUCATION MATTERS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 793, 16 April 1910, Page 11

EDUCATION MATTERS.

FKEE SCHOOL-BOOK SYSTEM. GENERAL DISSATISFACTION. iDjr TeleEraDh.-Epeciol CorreiDondent.l Auckland, April 11. The chairman of the Auckland Education Board (Mr. C. J. Parr) gave the members some particulars of educational affairs in the south which camo under' his notice while attending the Library Conference at Dunedin. He looked into matters connected with education in , the three big centres, and would like to publicly acknowledge the kindness and courtesy with which he had been received as the representative of the board. He was pleased to see that in the south th 6. Auckland Board was recognised as one or tne most progressive, if not the most progressive in the. Dominion. They realised that Auckland "kept up its end" in educational matters at least. With'regard to tho type of school buildings in Utago, Canterbury, and Wellington, he thought Auckland had not anything to learn from them. The Auckland Board's architect (Mr. Farrell) gave them as good a structure for educational purposes, and certainly as cheap, as any of the southern boards had to-day. Mr. Parr was shown some fine new schools, but had seen nothing better than Romnera and Edendale Schools. Ho found that in the south the boards as a rule had their own office .buildings, and did not pay rent-as tho Auckland Board did. He thought if some way could be manoged to finance the matter it would be true economy to get a piece of land and build their own offices. The work of education must go on, and would still be in iull swing when the present. members were ■ dead and gone. It was not decent that this great work should not have a .proper, house. He would suggest in the mat'"few months that the board take into its serious consideration the question of purchasing a piece of land, and attempt to finance a modest building for a beginning; but they should get plonty of land to , make provision for the future. The unearned increment in such a city as Auckland would be such that the board and tho Department would make a very profitable bargain. Another question which was causing great interest- in the , south was that of free school books. As in tho north, dissatisfaction was universal. They had the - saino. • troubles Auckland had, and no one was satisfied.. The difficulty was that the grant was not sofficient. The other boards now admitted that the' Auckland Board was right in its contention that tho grant was too small to supply all the books reasonably required. There was-a free-book system in name only. In the south, as in Auckland, parents were buying books in order to supply the children with books to take home. Tho Minister should reconsider tho whole question with a view to putting it on a proper basis. Another point on which the southern boards woro strong was th« advisability of having,conferences of all the boards on matters of administration. The various boards had tho same difficulties lo contend with, and conferences .would be of mutual bonefit as well as of use to the Minister, as the combined opinion. of the boards on important questions could be furnished for his guidance. Mr. Parr.Eaid he would bring this matter before the board at its next mooting. ■