TELEGRAMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 6 May 1921, Page 1

TELEGRAMS.

VARIOUS DOMINION ITEMS.

[BY TELEGRAPH—PER PRESS ASSOCIATION]

EDUCATION GRANTS

ALLEGED INEQUITABLE DISTRI-

BUTTON

INVERCARGILL, May 3

A member of the Southland Education Board, Air F. G. Blake, has returned from a visit to the north with the conviction that expenditure on education, buildings, plagyrounds, etc., is not being as equitably apportioned as it should be. Mr Blake has collected some interesting data bearing on expenditure in the North Island. He quoted one case to a “Times” reporter. This is in connexion with the purchase of a residence for a hostel at Hawera. According to him a second-hand Rouse was bought by the Department at a cost of £4500. Since then approximately £2400 had been spent on .alterations » £SOO on furniture, and £IOO on the section. In March, he says, there were only five, and in April only six boarders in the institution. This patronage is not, ho holds, sufficient to warrant tho outlay, in view of the urgent requirements by way of grants for increasing the accommodation in overcrowded primary schools, and for the erection of new buildings to replace old and often unhealthy structures. Mr Blake states that tho case quoted is typical of others of which he has particulars. At the next meeting of the Southland Board he will advocate a public investigation into all applications made during the last year or so for buildings, playgrounds, sites, etc., for primary, secondary, technical, and university education. He believes, in consequence of his enquiries, that such an investigation would expose an inequitable distribution of the public funds.

A SERIOUS CHARGE. GREYMOUTH, May 6 At the Magistrate’s Court yesterday the hearing was concluded of a charge against J. M. Fitzgerald, formerly postmistress at Blackball, of opening a postal package, contrary to duty, an indictable offence. After lengthy evi deuce was taken, the accused reserved her defence and was committed to the Supreme Court for trial. Mr Park applied for the trial to bo heard at Christchurch, the Crown offering to pay the expenses of accused anil her witnesses. His Worship granted the application for charge of venue, and committed accused for trial at Christchurch. Bail was granted in two sureties of £l5O each.