"SEND ROUND THE HAT."

Oamaru Mail, Volume III, Issue 727, 8 August 1878, Page 2

"SEND ROUND THE HAT."

Although the Education Act specialty declares that children attending public schools shall receive instruction in singing and drill, it dees not apparently provide tiny funds for the payment of those who arc appointed to impart this instruction. The Oamani Schools Committee finding that it had no funds for the purpose applied to the Education Board to pay the salaries of the singing master and drill instructor, but met with a refusal. The matter was then referred to the Minister for Education, with what result nj,ay be judged fi'Qm the following letter, which, as the Chairman put it, conveys an intimation to the Committee to " send round the hat," to enable them to pay for the instruction of children in singing and drill ; Department of Education, Wellington, July IS, IS7S. Sir, —I have the honor, by direction of the Minister of Education, to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 3rd instant, calling his attention to the financial position of the Oamaru School Committee." As your statement tbat "the Committee is not prepared to say that under the present system the Board is in a- position to

grant further funds," may be regarded a.* an admission that the Committee are receiving asfair share of the moneys placed at the dis.jpoj&l of the Board by the Legislature, I am that there is a course indicated by the .act itself by which the School Committee might be able to augment their school fund to the extent necessary for providing the instruction referred to in your letter, I infer to section SI of the Act which includes donations and subscriptions in the school fund. Jt is possible that if the parents of pupils and the friends of the Oamaru schools were offered ;.n opportunity, they misjht be willing j to aid the Committee in augmenting the sehool fund to the necessary extent. In following this course, the Committee and the contributors would be simply acting on the suggestion of the Act itself. I have. &e., Jons Hislov. The Chairman of the School Committee, I Oamaru.