CONTROL OF EDUCATION

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 225, 17 June 1920, Page 5

CONTROL OF EDUCATION

VIEWS OF THE MINISTER.

The Minister of Education (Hon, C. J. Parr) met the C<*uucil of Education yesterday morning and addressed the members on educational matters. He referred first to complaints that the advice of tho council had not always been taken by tho Education Department. It seemed to him to be poor business to set up a consultive body and then disregard its recommendations. '•Either you should be abolished or wo should make some use of you," he said. "That is tho plain English ot tho position. . . . Which course we shall adopt I teli you frankly I havo not made up my mind. lam pressed by various organisations, principally representing the primary school teachers, to alter your constitution and ,to create an educational executive rather than a inoro advisory body. It is suggested that there should be an educational executive, small in numbers, associated with tho Minister and sitting almost continuously in Wellington, on which would devolve the task of running the educational system of this country. I have not yet had time to consider this suggestion at all carefully." He had an open mind upon the matter, but he could say that at present tho idea of creating a central authority of tlm typo suggested did not. altogether find favour with him. Tho Minister referred to the impending retirement of the Director of Education (Dr. Anderson), and emphasised tho importance of the office. Tho Department must seek the best possibw successor to tho Director, and must ba prepared to pay an adequate salary. Ho would not hesitate to-look abroad for a Director if necessary. The future success of the education system would depend very largely upon the right selection being made. suppose that the Public Service Commissioners will bo entrusted with this appointment undor tho eomewhat extraordinary system that obtains," said tho Minister. Tho democracy must realise that tho best men wero lequired at the head of Government Departments and that they could not be secured without paying attractive salaries. The Minister referred to several other matters, and was thanked by tho council ,'for his address.