DEPUTATION RR EDUCATIONAL MATTERS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 4804, 15 August 1876, Page 3

DEPUTATION RR EDUCATIONAL MATTERS.

A deputation from the Education Board waited upon Messrs. Hunter and R. Pharazyn, members of the Provincial Executive, yesterday, for the purpose of asking the aid of the Government in obtaining for the Board an amount of money wherewith to carry on operations. The deputation consisted of the Hon. C. J. Pharazyn (Chairman of the Board of Education), Mr. Gisborne, Mr. Beetham), and Mr. Graham, Secretary to the Board. Mr. Bunny being Deputy-Superin-tendent, a 3 well as a member of the Education Board, was not present. Mr. Phabazyn stated the object of the deputation was to ask the Government to assist them in obtaining money for the purpose of carrying out the functions of the Board.

Mr. Hcnter pointed out that a member of the Education Board had taken a certain lino of action in order to prevent the Provincial Government dealing with the, money for educational purposes. Owing to Mr. Andrew having introduced a Bill into Parliament for the purpose of curtailing the power of the Deputy-Superintendent, Mr. Bunny had come to the determination that he would not deal with the question until it had first been decided by the higher tribunal. Mr. Gisbobnb said he understood that the Provincial Government had intended to make a grant of £SOO to the Catholic body without the sanction of the EJucation Board. Mr. Hunter : The Provincial Executive proposed nothing of the kind. Mr. Bunny brought under the nqtice of the Education Board a proposition for the disposal of a portion of the grant, that proposition, when placed before the Board was not, so far as he (the speaker) knew, objected to at the time. Some discussion ensued as to the position of the Board in regard to the matter since the introduction of Mr. Andrew's resolution at one of the late, meetings, and it appeared that there had been a misunderstanding on the part of the Board, who were under the impression that the object of the Deputy-Superinten-dent was to hand over to the Catholio body in Wellington a sum of £SOO independently of the Education Board ; hence the resolutions passed and forwarded to the Provincial and General Governments.

Mr. Gisbobnk said they were prepared to justify the action of the Board, but declined to acknowledge participation in the action of Mr. Andrew as member for the Wairarapa.' Mr. Hunter said it was only fair to Mr. Pharazyn and himself to say that until Mr. Bunny made the suggestion to the Board, the subject was never spoken of. Providing the concurrence of the Board had been obtained, he (Mr. Hunter) wonld certainly have offered no objection, because he knew the Board had the power, and he also knew that Mr. Bunny would not have appropriated the money without the concurrence of Mr. Pharazyn and himself.

Mr. Beetham remarked that the whole matter appeared to have risen out of a misunderstanding. Mr. Gisborne then stated that there was due to the Board by the Provincial Government a sum of £BO7 on the 30th September; but they required a sum of £I9OO, and to obtain the balance of this, after deducting the £BOO, they sought the co-operation of the Provincial Executive in an appeal to the General Government ; this course being rendered necessary in consequence of the provisions of the new Act which, by abolishing the Education rate, rendered it impossible to obtain an advance from the bank. After some further discussion, in which much of that already set forth was repeated, Mr. Hunter stated that the object of the Provincial Government had always been to assist the Board, and if that body would lay their financial position before the jExecutive, the Government would be happy to do all in 'their power to assist them. It was decided that a meeting of the Board should be called for to-day; that the deputation Bhould then report, and tha* the result of the meeting should be communicated to the Provincial Executive. The deputation then withdrew.