CUTTING DOWN EXPENSES

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 594, 21 February 1929, Page 6

CUTTING DOWN EXPENSES

SECONDARY SCHOOLS MAY LOSE £I,OOO ALARM IN AUCKLAND A strong protest is to be made by the Auckland Grammar Schools Board against the suggestion before the Department of Education to reduce the capitation allowance for incidental expenses. The board may receive £I,OOO less each year under the proposed new "Centralisation gone mad,” was the comment of Professor A. P. W. Thomas when the board yesterday afternoon received a communication from the department stating its proposal. “The department seems to be bent on preventing the board from carrying out its function,” said Mr. H. E. Vaile. “Much is required to be done to improve playing areas at several schools.” Mr. J. Stanton: There should be an increased allowance. The letter said that it was considered that a payment to secondary schools of a flat rate of £2 10s a pupil for incidental expenses was not suitable. Under the revised scale suggested, schools with under 400 pupils would have a slightly increased capitation and those with over 400 would have a corresponding decrease. Professor Thomas said that the board would lose probably £I,OOO a year. Auckland Grammar, which was allowed £965 last year, would lose £556 ss: Epsom Girls’ Grammar. £604, would lose £154: Auckland Girls’ Grammar. £583, would lose £137 ss; and Mount Albert Grammar, £568, would lose £126. In the case of Takapuna Grammar, which was allowed £345 last year, there would be an addition of £l3 15s to the allowance. Probably, when the roll numbers were adjusted on March 1. the board would receive well over £I,OOO less than previously.