“DEPARTMENT HAS ENOUGH TO DO”

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 132, 25 August 1927, Page 13

“DEPARTMENT HAS ENOUGH TO DO”

EDUCATION BOARD’S VIEW NO REPLIES TO LETTERS “HPHIS shows that' the Education Department has enough to do, without taking over the work of education boards,” remarked the chairman of the Grammar Schools’ Board, Professor A. P. W. Thomas, to the board yesterday. He was commenting on the fact that the board had written two letters, one in June and one in August, on the same subject, without being successful in getting a reply from the department. The board decided to write to Messrs. E. D. McLellan, M.P., and A. Harris, M.P., asking them to obtain a reply, “It is deplorable that we have to ask members of Parliament to get replies for us,” remarked a member. Letters on the subject of the rumoured abolition of education boards were received from Messrs. W. E. Parry, M.P., and H. E. Holland, M.P., Mr. Parry indicated his intention to oppose any such move, but at the same time he thought the election of the boards might be put on a more democratic basis. Mr. Holland wrote that he did not think the department would take the .suggested step, .and stated that, as a member of the Select Committee he had heard nothing of it. SCHOLARSHIP ALLOWANCES The Grammar Schools’ Board and the department have also another disagreement. The headmistress advised the board yesterday that considerable inconvenience was resulting from the delaying in paying allowances to pupils who had won national scholarships.. Certificates had been received, but the department declined to make payments till next term. This was a serious matter for some pupils. One had had to be given a loan of £2O in advance. The board will approach the department on the subject. TERMS FOR 1928 The board has approved the following 1928 terms: —First term, February 7 to May 4: holidays two weeks and one day; second term, May 22 to August 17; holidays three weeks and one day; third term, September 11 to December 19; holidays, six weeks and three days.