MINISTER OF EDUCATION.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVI, Issue 95, 26 August 1913, Page 2

MINISTER OF EDUCATION.

" FREE PLACES." ,

[Pun Press 'Association.]

Wellington, August 25

Iu reply to a deputation concerning die question of free-place pupils who had qualified for admission to college but could not be found a place, the Hon. Jas. Allen, said that ho would have the matter, carefully inquired into. There were two or three important questions to be dealt with. One was as to whether the standard of free places was a proper one, and another was whether, the State could afford to

make provision for all those who had passed the examination for free places. It might be that certain additional accommodation might be secured by utilising to their fullest capacity the buildings for secondary education alone.i That would have to be looked into. With regard to the general question as to the higher standard, it was a difficult matter to decide. He pointed out that there were some pupils who went to these schools who did not stay very long. That was another matter to lie investigated, ft was impossible for him to deal with the whole matter of free places during what was likely to be -a very busy session. I He would take, time and go into the matter with that of staffiing and teachers' salaries carefully after Parliament rose. He -would have the. main question looked into immediately for, as he conceived, there would bo no discrimination. Personally he could see no reason why the method of* selection should not be according to merit. He could see no difficulties in the way of that procedure. He thought that unless there was some unforeseen difficulty in the way, immediate provision could ,be made for a selection in order of merit. If the expenses in this direction liecame very much heavier, there would be a. demand for local taxation, and he did not want to have to advocate that. • -