Expenditure on Education

Hokitika Guardian, 2 November 1921, Page 4

Expenditure on Education

KCi IN Oil Y X KCKSSA RY. WKI.I.INUTON. Oct. :N. Doli'liulcs from the School C "itiiiiiltees’ I'Yilcialion waited on ilk- i’niiKi Minister and Minister ol Kdmation today. to place lie loro them tile iomits passed at the conference just closed Mr It. Atmmv, .M.l’., vice-president- <n the SeJeration, lor which Messrs S. (i. Smith. M.l’., (president of the Kcderutitm). Steele (Otago), and 1.0 (Iraiieo (Palmerston North), woro. the spokesmen, .Messrs \Y. A. Yeitch ( Wanganui) and I). (i. Sullivan (Avon) were also present. In reply. Mr Parr said that, capital expenditure was entirely in the hands of the Minister of Kinniu-e. Kxpendimi'c on buildiiHt-s had reached a total that had never been approached bo. fore, but it- bad been very considerably re, bleed at present, and he was not allllmiising more than £IOO,OOO per :vn mim. Other expenditure was comI>iis(*d mainly of teachers’ salaries, so that there could he no curtailment in that direction without affecting fhe teachers. He denied a suggestion that teachers specially trained in infant and kindergarten work wen* forced willy nillv into standard work. livery teacher got tin* training spoken of. Kach teacher was allowed to choose what branch of work ho desired to take pu. He agreed tha.i- women should have, a say in tin* work uf the Depart ment.

Tiif Prime Minister reminded tin* dcputal ion that 1 lie*.mattors brought rp were really the business of the Mincer of Kfbn at.inn. He appreciated the • »nnd work done I»y school commit I cos. hut :ili the proposals made that day involved expenditure. and though t lit* on*nimi‘iit had proved its interest i neducation l»y increasing th<_» annual vote from C 1,300.000 to £3.000.000 the country could not on much further until tile population increased. To goti through tin* depressien they had to economise, and it was liust as well that! all should face the position. He was sorry to say that there would he no increase in expenditure during the present- year, except in very urgent- cases. They could not ,'fo on as they had,, even in the matter of education. There had been a eood deal of economy and retrenchment- effected already without any face or trouble, and more had to conic

iiltlioiinli 11 io (Jovernnimt would s<'i* 1 o it. that no injustice was done. 7 ft* would not be dniiiLf his duty if lie promise,! lavish expenditure, hut ns s °on as they uf,j hack to normal <H»nditions. no ono would l>e mon» pleased than Ik* would he to do everything j>o*_ s, "hlo ior the edueat ion of the rising izenoration.