NO SCHOOLS!

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2210, 24 July 1914, Page 9

NO SCHOOLS!

THE CM OF THE BACK-BLOCKS. Slajor Lusk, e n Auckland delegate, moved yesterday at tho Farmers' Union Conference: ''That tlio ncglcct of backblock schools, should bo brought under tho liotico of the Government." Tlie mover said that it.was a notorious fact that in many of tho back-blocks districts thero wero 110 schools. Iu some eases whero there wero chough children for a school tliere was no building, and tho education boards had asked tho Bottlers to put up their o\tn schools. Tho education boards denied neglect of duty, but some Kinecly would nave to be found for the children of settlors who' wero breaking in new country. Tho children in the towns were well catered for, and some of the money which was spent on line buildings for tliem might he devoted to thu assistance of tile country boys and girls. Tliere was r.o intention to dictate a means of improvement to tho Government, but the position simply was that tliere was urgent need, for action. The! motion was carried. Tho conference continued to discuss questions of • education, and .passed tho following resolutions:— Capitation.—"That Education Boards should liavo discretionary powers in allotting increased capitation, in isolated localities." Powers of Boards.-—"That tho Gov- 1 eminent should bo urged to amend the Education Act so that the Boards of Education may have power to remove or suspend teachers in their employ, if they think lit, providing there is a ri"ht of appeal." ■ School Lands. —"That it should bo a recommendation to the Government, when considering the question of the establishment of new country schools, tho minimum area of land attached to any such school shall be increased from two acres to live acres, in order that when the time arrives sufficient space will be available for practical instruction in agriculture and horticulture, besides leaving ample room for open-air physical instruction and for playing grounds."