“A VERY NICE FUNERAL”

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1032, 24 July 1930, Page 12

“A VERY NICE FUNERAL”

EXEUNT EDUCATION BOARDS CENTRALISATION HOTLY ATTACKED SATIRE ON NEW DIGNITY IF I did not know that two officers of the Education Department wrote some of that report—including the part about the dignity which is coming to Education Boards—l would have thought that it was the writing of Mark Twain.” This was portion of a caustic attack made today by Mr. A. Burns, chairman of the Auckland Education Board, on certain aspects of the recent report by the Education Committee. “I may not know the meaning of dignity,” continued Mr. Burns, “but everything has been taken away from the education boards. Dignity—it is what we may term a very nice funeral.”

Mr. Burns liit hard at the findings of the committee, which in effect proposed to relieve Education Boards of their privileges and powers in a general scheme of centralisation and nationalisation of the whole system. The committee has put this forward chiefly to reduce the expense of education to taxpayers. Members of the board, who were called together for a special meeting this morning, commented that figures illustrating the per capita charge for education comparing certain Australian States and New Zealand, were not necessarily argument for centralisation. FIGHTING FOR SEATS "It may be said ihat we are fighting for our 3eats,” said Mr. Burns. “It is not that. We are entrusted with education in each of the districts, and if action has been taken to remove their privileges from the people, it is our duty to fight for the retention of those privileges. The private individual cannot fight for his rights, and we must do it for him.” The people of New Zealand had (he right to select persons to manage edu cation, continued the chairman, and if at the end of two years their representatives failed to give satisfaction they could be turned out. On the contrary, if control was in the hands of a departmental officer he was there for life, aB long as he carried out his duties. “We haven’t come here to condemn the report as a whole,” the chairman remarked, “but we do condemn the side Issues which have been brought forward to push centralisation.” He recalled that Mr. T. B. Strong. Director of Education, had tried to bring about a change two years ago. Education Boards were then being tried behind closed doors. There had been such a storm and outburst that the then Minister had abandoned centralisation. “The committee should have commendation for what it has attempted, but its report is so full of Jncqnsistencies that one does not know where to begin an analysis, ’ commented Mr. F. A. Snell. REPORTS NOT AVAILABLE Disappointment that individual members had not had opportunity of perusing the report, through lack of copies sent from Wellington, was expressed by .Mr. T. U. Wells. From what he had seen of the recommendations he thought much very valuable reorganisation was proposed. But very careful consideration ought to be given to the section relating to administration. “As tar as I can see the existing boards are going to be shorn of all their responsibilities,” commented Mr. Wells. He could not see how the department was going to get capable persons with the necessary time to give their services on the proposed controlling authorities. The proposal that building and maintenance of school buildings should be carried out by the Public Works Department was most unsatisfactory and costly. Then, again, the appointment of teachers from Wellington. Inconvenience and delay would result If, say, a teacher died after the school year started. Mr. Burns: They would have to die annually. (Laughter.) The futility of the Director of Education’s idea that the secretaryships to the seven boards should be the work of the senior school inspectors in each district was the main line of attack by Mr. E. C. Banks. He further took exception to Mr. Strong’s “reflections upon the board’s work before 1914.” “If control goes to Wellington, the only thing we can do is to leave our jobs—l’m going to, for one,” declared Mr. Banks with emphasis. (Laughter.) DEMOCRATIC AND SENSIBLE Mr. J. Boddie expressed regret that members had not had copies of the report made available. “Here we have the most democratic, most sensible and most practical system in operation probably anywhere,” said Mr. Boddie. "Centralisation in Wellington will never meet the functions of the present order. “How far are we going to retain in the hands of the people the rights that are being filched from them?” he asked. Some of the proposals were absolutely ridiculous and incapable of being carried out, said Mr. Boddie. He suggested that the board set up a committee to confer with other boards, with a view to safeguarding the rights of the people. INCONSISTENCY What impressed Mr. H. S. W. King was the Inconsistency between the two sections of the report. On the one hand the boards were commended for the valuable work they were doing, yet in section two all their powers were being taken away. "Education is now in the hands of the politician,” said Mr. King. "It is now for the politicians to say what is to be done, whether we are to have democratic control, or control by a bureau.”

A prophecy that Parliament would never sanction the proposals regarding centralisation and that the Bill would he shelved was Mr. G. Brownlee’s contribution. “We can’t take that risk,” the chairman threw in. “It seems to me that the next step is a dictatorship,” observed Mr. Snell. “Then we should be reduced to serfdom.” Mr. Burns: Mussolini! APPEAL TO COMMITTEES On the motion of Mr. J. Primrose it was agreed to appeal to the school committees for support in a united protest for the preservation of the people’s rights. “I am quite satisfied that members of Parliament reading the committees recommendations would be impressed at first sight and if the proposals were adopted as a party measure they might go through,” said Mr. Burns in advocating that no stone be left unturned to point out the seriousness of the position. Mr. Burns and Mr. Wells, aud the secretary, Mr. D. W. Dunlop, were appointed to represent the board at a conference called by tlie Education Boards’ Association in Wellington to discuss the report. On the motion of Mr. King the board unanimously passed the following resolution: —“In the opinion of this board the committee’s recommendations that the functions of the existing education boards should he mainly transferred to a national administration are not in the best interests of education and if given effect to would deny to the people the right of choosing whom they think should administer the educational affairs of this country.”