N.Z. EDUCATION

Hokitika Guardian, 22 June 1933, Page 2

N.Z. EDUCATION

PAR- TOO MANY INSPECTORS. “ONE OP THE GREATEST CURSES” NAPIER, June 19. . “I consider of the greatest curses in all manner of activities iin New Zealand is the large number of inspectors,” remarked Mr R< Sainsbury at the meeting of the Hawkes Ray Education Board to-day, when a resolution from the Nelson Education Board was being discussed. The resolution, for which support was urged, made the suggestion that since the business of the department is to ,be in the hands of a qualified business mia.n, it should not be necessary to have any other than an office director. On the professional side, it should be possible for primary and secondary inspecstors efficiently to inspect all schools, pr dually, secondary and technical, throughout the Dominion.

The resolution therefore recommended that the offices of chief inspector of primary schools, chief inspector of secondary schools, superintendent of technical education and -assistant-director of education be dispensed with, and that in addition to primary inspection a staff secondary inspector he attached wholly or in part to each education district, and that the nine senior inspectors be brought to Wellington at least once annually im order to confer with the director of education and determine matters of policy. “We hive .far too many inspector in the Education Department,” continued Mr Salisbury. “One man does something. An inspector (inspects it. Hi,; work is inspected by someone else, who, in turn, has to submit to inspection b> another officer, and so it goes On « ntil the chief inspector is reached and begets about £2OOO a- year for it. I do not r.v.ggest we should do away with all Inspectors, but- I do think greater economy could be achieved.”

Mr R. 0. Wright; I think the motion is a step in the right direction. I think a conference should be held yearly 'between t-he director of education and the senior inspectors, at which all matters could be dealt with. The three chief inspectors named could easily be dispensed with. In any case, I consider all the three offices could be handled by one _ , j “Of course, I am not suggesting that the.oificiJrfi have not got plenty to said Mr Sainsbury. ‘ l

iMr G. A|. Maddison s a id 'he consid-i ©red that a. business man should be at the head of every Government Department, Education included. The departments had to handle millions yearly and there was a definite need for a ma, n at the head who had been trained in business, so that the l best management of the funds would bo possible. The motion that the Nelgon resolution be approved and supported was carried unanimously.