The Daily News. MONDAY, APRIL 28, 1902. SCHOOL COMMITTEE ELECTIONS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXIV, Issue XXIV, 28 April 1902, Page 2

The Daily News. MONDAY, APRIL 28, 1902. SCHOOL COMMITTEE ELECTIONS.

Everywhere throughout the colony the householder* art) called upon this evening to elect a school committee for caeh school district. Roughly speaking I there are some 1500 school districts in the colony. Owing, therefore to the widespwad interest, this election may be termed one of the most important, events of the year. • The members of the various committees are also thf< persons who olect the members of Education Boards. It is important, that the greatest care should be taken in selecting members of school committees, as through them the householders control the constitution of Edu cation Boards. Fortunately, in Taranaki, the relation existing between the Education Board and the fifty-seven committees have been of the most harmonious character. Very little friction has so far arisen, and when it has, it has been due to one or the other not fully realising the difficulties of the position. The election to take place to night is more important than usual, becauß» the effect of the passing of the "Public Schools Teachers' Salaries Act," will necessitate, as far as Taranaki is concerned, a complete re-ar-rangement of the finances of the Education Board, and difficult as this task is, tbe difficulty will be greatly increased if the Board has not the sympathetic support of the school committees. At a recent meeting of the Board, the Finance Committee reported that under tbe new system, unless tbe expenditure was cut down, the income would fail to meet the expenditure by ,£548 6s 6d. Reductions were recommended amounting to £462 ss, still leaving a deficiency ef £B6 Is 6d. In concluding their report, the Finance Committee pointed out " that further reductions could bemade by reducing the capitation grant to school committees, but the question being one of vital importance they were not prepared to make a recom mendation without further consideration." Naturally, the Board is anxious ito avoid cutting down the capitation allowance to committees, if possible, although members of the lata Commission on Salaries and members of thn late Teachers' Conference expressed tne opinion that the ailowancelin Taranaki is too liberal as compared with other districts. The same opinion was, we understand, expressed at the Conference of Secretaries of Education Boards vacantly held in Wellington. During the past year the New Plymouth committee have refused to carry out their functions owing to the Board carrying out a decision arrived af

nearly two years ago to put them on the fame footing as regards capitation as other committees. Had the Board not taken this course it must havu increased the c&pitatien of several other com mittf.es, where tbe attendance is r asidly incretsing, not. ibly at Stratford, Inglewocd, and Waitara, thus increasing its difficulties. We take it hat, however right it may have been years ago, no one will contend now that a special capitation allowance for one school it fair, just, or reasonable. No doubt the matter will bp discussed at the househol'ierb' meetings to-night, and we regrst to see efforts made to make the householders bclieye this committee Ims been badly treated by the Board, instead of giving information to et able them to arrivu at a fair; and just conclusion. If the allowances }

made by other Ednc.tion Boardii nre compared, it will be found that the Taranaki Board h s treated the committees exceptionally well, It cannot be claimed that s 'bool committers in Taranaki hate difficulties to contend ! with, pot experienced in othsr educational districts, and from a careful study of the regulations of the various boards *na gafchor the purposes to which the comrnktue's allowance is applied is prac'ically thn sami in the different districts, .In fixing the allowance the boirds differ very muc'i, eo'ne adopting a sliding scale, anil s me an increase for pach 20 or 30 pupil*. The following figures culled from the regulations of thri various boards will enable a comparison to be made, and fully bears out the contention that the Taranaki Boa'd treats tfio committees exceptionally well Space ill not permit out' d> ali g with tacb class of school, but that is not necessary. Th" figures quoted deal with such scho J-i as the larger ones in this district'.

Auckland, for 4CO pupil?, an annual allowance of .£BS, 500 pupils £lO5, 600 pupils ,£l2O. Taranaki, over 100 pupils 4s 6d per head ; 400 pupils £90,500 pupils £ll2, 600 pupils £135. Wanganui, 250 pupils and upwards 2a 9d; per head 400 pupils £55, 500 pupils £6B 15-, 600 pupils £B2 10s. Hawke's Bay, 250 pupils and upwards 3s per iiead, 500 pupils 2s Bd, 600 2s; 400 pupils £6O, 500 pupils £66, 600 pupils £6O. Wellington, 460 pupils £6l 12?, 500 pupils £66. Marlborough, upwards of 400 3s per he-id ; 400 pupiis £6O, 500 pupils £75, 600 pupils £9O. Nelson, 250 and upwards 4s par h<=ad ; 400 pupils £BO, 500 pupils £IOO, 600 pupils £l2O. Oiey, 400 pupils to 450 £75, 450 pupil-; to 550 £77 10s. Westki.'d, upwards of 400 pupil* 2s per )iaad; 400 pupi's £4O, 500 pupils £SO, 600 pupils £6O. South Canterbury. 450 pupils £6O 10s, 540 pup.ls £69 10s, 600 pupils £75 10s.

Otago, 450 pupils £9O, 550 pupils £lO5, 650 pupils £125. Southland, 25 pupils and upwards 2s 6d per head; 400 pupils £SO, 500 pupils £62 10s, 600 pupils £75. North Canterbury figures are not to hand.

In the fao--) of these figures, and th« financial position of the Bjard, the prospects of a higher c*pitition very remote. It is to be hoped, therefore, that the householders will elect committees whose members will work loyally' with the Education Board and assist it iu promoting the best interest of education.