EDUCATION BOARD AND THE DEPARTMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXII, Issue 54, 15 March 1900, Page 2

EDUCATION BOARD AND THE DEPARTMENT.

PKOSPEOT OF INCHEASKD SUBSIDIES. Messks. McAllum (Chairman) and Allsworfch, who were deputed to interview the Minister of Education with a view to obtaining the requisite financial aid to properly carry on the educational work of the district, presented the following report to the Board: — New Plymouth, 27th February, 1900. Mis? Hey wood and Gentlemen, —

in accordance with the resolution of the Boird, your committee proceeded to Wellington to interview the Hon the Minister of Education regarding the matters which we wwre requested to bring under his notice. We were very courteously received by the Minister (Hon. Mr. Walker), the In-spector-General. (Mr. Hogben), and the Under-Secretary for Education (Sir E. 0. Gibbs). We placed the financial position of the district and its requirements fully before the Minister, but unfortunately the whole of the money authorised by Parliament for Building Grant had been expended, and the expenditure in equipping contingents for South Africa had exhausted the amount available under unauthorised expenditure. In view, however, of the urgency of certain painting and repairs, the Minister agreed, if the Board decides to avail itself of this method, to advance £413 as against next year's giant, and promised to endeavour to induce the House to pass a larger vote next year, so that he can give Taranaki a larger sum than that hitherto received. With regard to the grant for schools in outlying and newly-settled districts, this money had, fortunately, not been divided, and the Minister promised to deal as liberally with Taranaki as he possibly could. He quite recognised the urgency of the case, and Sir E. 0. Gibbs went very fully into the details of each of the four cases submitted. The question of secondary education was gone very fully into, and the Minister promised, if the Board made application for a definite amount, to consider if it is possible to give some assistance this year, and further promised that next year provision should be made to meet the case. In the meantime,'the In-spector-General will visit the Stratford District High School and report We asked for £2OO, as we found that assittance to this amount has been given in the oase of Greymouth, and smaller sums to Kumara and Blenheim. In connection with the qusstion of secondary education, we had interviews with Mr, Powles, Registrar of the Victoria College, as we gathered that further legislation will probably take place next session regarding that institution which may probably attest the University Reserve at Whenuakura. Mr. Powles very kindly arranged an interview between Mr. Blair (Chairman of the Victoria College Council and Chairman of the Wellington Education Board) and Mr. Allsworth, who agreed to wait until Saturday for that purpose. During that interview Mr. Blair expressed the opinion that the whole question of the Queen's Scholarships should be re-arranged, so many scholarships (not less than two, if possible) being allotted to each educational district. Mr. Blair further stated that he would agree to a proposal for the revenue of the University Reserve being set apart for scholarships open exclusively to children attending schools within the Provincial District of Taranaki. With reference to the grant for inspection, the Minister agreed that it re-consideration of the allocation was necessary, and indicated that it would probably be necessary to ask the House for an increased vote. He promised to go fully into the question before next session, when the position of this district would be considered. In conclusion, we desire to place on record our appreciation of the courtesy and kindness we received from all with whom our mission brought us in "contact.

j D.. McAllum, E. G.'Allswobth. P.S.—The model rifles will be issued to the Central School as soon as the conditionsarecompliedwith.— D.McA., E.G. A. After considering this report it was resolved that the recommendations be adopted and given eSect to, with the exception of that relating to the reserves for secondary education, a matter which is to be specially considered by the Board at a future meeting.