SCHOOL COMMITTEES.

Shannon News, 20 December 1927, Page 3

SCHOOL COMMITTEES.

increased capitation sought REPAIRS AND WATER RATE CHARGES. The question of increased capitation, a “hardy annual” with school committees, was again raised with the Minister of Education (Hon. R. A. Wright) by a deputation from the Sehool Committee Association on Friday night. The Minister promised to place the icpiesentations before Cabinet. The deputation was introduced by Mr R. Mclveen, M.P., and-the speakers were Messrs A. Parlano (chairman of the Association), A. Johnston ,(Terrace School), V. Klee (Seatoun), and C. W. Tanner (Te Aro). It was stated that a tally recently taken revealed that most ‘of the sehool committees in Wellington had ended the year on the debit side of the ledger, and special funds, provided for such requirements as improvements to grounds, and had to be transferred for general purposes/ It was feared that parents who sub-, scribed money voluntarily for specific purposes would Ire discouraged from further support in that direction if the the funds were utilised to meet charges that should be covered by the capitation grant. The attention of the Minister was drawn to the fact that committees had now to bear water rate charges. Mr- Tanner said a rumour had gone the rounds that it was proposed to cut down the present grant— The Minister: Oh. no, all that has been said is that there should be • no waste. There is no intention to take anything away from you. Mr. Tanner: We are very glad to hear that. ! Replying (to the representations, the Minister said tliat as far as he could see the water rate charge was a new liability for the committees. He had not been aware that they had been penalised in that iyay, and he would go into the matter with the Department. It Avas not fair that there should be additional impositions on the committees. It appeared that some of the committees were spending more than they should have to on repairs, and that matter, he promised, would- be taken up with the Education Board. The committees controlling the larger schools were in a better position than the smaller school committees. Returns from some of the former disclosed credit balances. “It was never intended that the small grant the committees rceeivo should bo entrenched upon in the way of heavy repairs,” added the Minister. Regarding the claim for increased capitation, the Minister said lie dared not take any more money out of the education fund, but he would place the representations before Cabinet and see whether he could obtain any additional money. What Cabinet’s decision Avould be he did not know. Any increase in capitation, to be of any value at all, would involve an additional expenditure of between £IO,OOO and £15,000 annually. He would do the best he possibly' could for the deputation, particularly as regarded the questions of water rate charges and repairs.