“STILL IN THE DARK”

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 149, 14 September 1927, Page 9

“STILL IN THE DARK”

FUTURE OF EDUCATION BOARDS YES, NO, OR MAYBE! (THE BUNA Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, Tuesday. Although a statement regarding the rumoured abolition of education hoards was made this afternoon ay the Minister of Education, the Hon. R, A. Wright, a considerable section of the House of Representatives is not satisfied that the position is any clearer than it was before. An attempt was made to-day to force the House to an expression of opinion for or against the abolition of boards, but the debate was carried on, and interrupted by the tea adjournment, before a vote could be taken. W li€:n the Minister of Education presented the annual report of his department, Mr. M. J. Savage, Auckland West, again pressed the question of the rumoured abolition of education boards. “We should have some indication from the Minister,” said Mr. Savage, “as to where we stand in the matter.” The Minister: I’ll make a statement, if I get a chance, this afternoon. FORCING THE ISSUE Though Mr. Savage had been satisfied to allow the subject to drop pending the Minister’s statement, Mr. H. Atrnore, Ncdson, sought to force the issue by an amendment to the effect that it: was the opinion of members that education boards should not be abolished. The amendment had the wholehearted support of the Opposition and the National and liberal Parties, but the boards received scant sympathy from Mr, W. D. Lysnar, Gisborne, who asserted that he had never been able to discover what it was that boards did, and that he believed the country would bei better off if they were done away with. He regretted that the affair was being made a party question. The Leader of the Opposition, Mr. H. E. Holland, appealed to the Minister for an immediate statement of the intentions of the Government. A POSSIBLE CLUE “I submit that this amendment, if carried, will not have the desired effect,” said the Minister in reply. “It may be an expression of the feelings of the members of this House one way ol* the other, but certainly it will not ha#e any real or permanent effect. The position is that there must be legislation—a Bill must be introduced in the ordinary way, and go through the ordinary procedure. I still think that until a Bill has been introduced, or some notice has been given of intention to introduce a Bill ’ Mr. Savage: Is it going to be introduced? That’s the plain question. The Minister: I’ll come to that. I have been castigated, directly, and Cabinet has been castigated, indirectly, because no direct statement has been made. I wish to say that there lias been no kite-flying on my part, or by the Government. “The only possible clue to the rumour is that a report was sent from the department to me dealing with boards generally, and before 1 had time to deal with it. the contents seemed to be in the hands of some section of the community. That started a rumour which was repeated by the daily Press, with the consequences that have resulted. I have been asked what is in the mind of the Government ” Mr. Atmore: A blank! Mr. Wright: No, jio. The Government has to make up its mind on this as on any other question, and it would have been impossible for me to make a statement sooner. I had it ready, and intended to make it this afternoon. “YES—NO” The Minister said he had been asked from several quarters to investigate the status and utility of. education boards, having regard to the general need for economy in all administrative departments. As the subject, involved the whole eductaion system he would not tackle it during the session. Moreover, opportunity would have to be given those who wished to be heard. No pronouncement would be made in the meantime, and any radical changes proposed would be submitted to Cabinet. He had been accused of being “Yes —No” over this question, but this made it clear. Mr. H. E. Holland: What does this mean, then? Mr. P. Fraser, Wellington Central: It means “No-yes.” The Minister: Surely this is definite! Nothing can be done this session. There is no time to inquire into it. Mr. V. H. Potter, Roskill: It will not be done by Order-in-Council? The Minister: Oh, dear, no. Boards have statutory powers, and any interference with their status will have to be made by legislation. Personally I am not in favour of the policy of centralisation to the extent that the department control everything from Wellington. No sooner had the Minister sat down, than Mr. T. M. Wilford. Hutt, was upon his feet, protesting that he was still in the dark as to what the Minister’s reply really meant. Several other members found themselves in the same position, and the Minister of Labour, the Hon. G. J. Anderson, who rose to defend the Minister of Education, could say only, when an interjeotor asked h:im to interpret Mr. Wright’s statement, that he would not do his colleague that discourtesy.

Further discussion followed, and the report was talked out.