EDUCATION BOARDS' DUTIES.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 7712, 14 January 1905, Page 2

EDUCATION BOARDS' DUTIES.

A WAITARA CASE BEFORE THE PREMIER Straight Talking. lluring his visit to Wnilarn yesterday the Premier, as Minister for Education, was wailed upon by a deputation headed by Mr Newbery, representing the Waitara School Committee. The object of the deputation was to bring before the Minister the overcrowded stute of the Waitara school, which had now .10 per cent, more children attending it than there was proper accommodation for. 'J he teachers complained that as a consequence the examination results were prejudicially affected, and it was felt by the committee, other remedies having failed, that the only way to get necessary additions carried out was to bring tho matter l>efore the Minister himself. Dr. Valinline, who was present, supported the contention that the school was very much overcrowded. Tne Premier, in the course of his reply, said tha'l Parliament had voted a much larger sum this year for building purposes. Each boacd got its amount of money in accordance with the schedule sanctioned by Parliament, and the Government handed the money over to the boards on the understanding that it would be used to meet urgent cases. Otherwise, ho asked, what was the use of education boards at all ? Tho Government had either to rely upon boards spending the money wisely, or else the people would want to know whether they should not be done away with altogether. The increases in votes for these educational purposes during the past few years had been proportionately considerably in excess of the increase in population. If there were cases like that of Waitara then the board in charge of tho district was to tdainq, and should be told so. There was a special vote for schools in newly settled districts, and the department yearly a sked each board to state its requirements to meet tho needs of increasing" population, and money was allocated according to the information furnished. Therefore, if, as stated by Mr Newberry, there was overcrowding to tho extent of 50 per cent, at Waitara, then the Taranaki Education Board was to blame, and public opinion should be brought to bear on the board itself. This would result ultimately in l Parliament insisting upon the building fund being allocated by the Government itself. There was a largo sum of money, approximating £IOO,OOO, voted), and tho Minister responsible to Parliament had really no say in its disposal. This was a state of affairs contrary to constitutional principles. Boards could misspend or do what they liked with the money. He recommended the committee to point out to the board that the Health Department had emphasised the insanitary condition of the school, owing to overcrowding, and the board should be asked for an explanation, which ho would also ask for himself, and a good deal would depend upon the position found to obtain. It was for the board to acquaint tho Government with special cases such as this. He would ir.iquirc into it before leaving Taranaki.