FARMERS’ CONFERENCE

Hokitika Guardian, 29 July 1927, Page 1

FARMERS’ CONFERENCE

(By Telegraph—l’er Press Association.)

WELLINGTON, July 28. U the Dominion Conference of the Farmers’ Union t-o-day, various matters of national interest were dealt with. It wtis resolved that the Upper House should he elected, as vided hy the law already on the statute hook. A remit, affirming the preferential voting principle was referred to the Executive. Also other remits dealing with the anomalies in the franchise as regards the Harbour, power, and Hospital Board elections. A remit to nationalise the main highways was lost, also one that a. protest he made against the raTsing ol a loan for main highways without a vote of the ratepayers. The Conference decided tu oppose am movement to centralise the control of the schools. Other remits deul--ug with various educational matters, eh icily affecting the back blocks, were withdrawn, after the Director of Educe l inn had explained certain matters about which the Conference desired informal ion. The Government is to he urged to provide for taking a ballot of all .sections of the community in regard to the half holiday. The Conference carried a remit protesting against, the proposal of the Depot i meat to abolish the allowance paid to children riding to school on horseback over roads impassable hy vehicles.

COUNTRY SCHOOLS. WELLINGTON. July 28. Asked to-day at the New Zealand Farmers’ Union Conference if it were correct that the Education Department proposed to abolish the. allowance paid to children riding to school on horseback over roads impassable by vehicles, Mr T. B. Strong (Director of Education) said such a step was contemplated. The Department, he said, expended £75,000 yearly on allowances for children travelling to school. Ten years ago me cost was only £25,000. With regard to a remit advocating the taking of steps to alter the system under which the parents of pupils are called upon to contribute towards the salaries of teachers (hoard and lodging) in the back blocks districts, the Director explained the Department’s attitude. Flo said that the consolidation of schools in Now Zealand was still in tho experimental stage. There was no doubt, that, by that means, bettor educational facilities wore provided. The cost of consolidation at. the present time was so exceedingly high that: it. was questionable

whether they were not better off financially under the old system. The Education Act. added Air Strong. provided that where tho number of school children was less than nine, a household school could ho established by the Education Board. Tho Act also provided that in such cases the parents of tile pupils rould in' called upon to supplement the .salary of the teacher by means of a board and lodging allowance. If the parents were unable to do that, then correspondence schools were at tho disposal of their children, and. in his opinion, there was not the slightest doubt that, n child could receive nil excellent education hy correspondence. An improvement had taken place during recent years in respect to the stuffing of country schools. That: had been brought about, not so much by reason of the allowance, as by the giving of preference to teachers, who had served in the country when promotion was being made. The number of uncertified teachers had been very considerably reduced.