THE HON. JAMES ALLEN.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 204, 26 February 1914, Page 4

THE HON. JAMES ALLEN.

VISIT TO NKW PLYMOUTH. VARIOUS DEPUTATIONS. The lion. .las. Allen, Minister of Finance, Education anil Defence, accompanied liy his ju-ivnt« secretary (Mr. Matthews) arrived in Now Plymouth last night by the mail train. He was mot by Mesir-. I|. oi; ov . M.P. fur Tarnniiki, ii. W. iirowne, Mavor of Now Phmouth, and K. Dockrill, 'chairman of the Now Plymoiilli lliffh School Board. After dinner the .Minister met various deputations at the White Hart Hotel.

EDUCATIONAL MATTERS. Messrs. H. Trimble (chairman), R. Masters, W. L. Kennedy and A. .Morton (members), P. ,s. Whitcombe (secretary) and Ballantync and Wlietter (inspectors) of the Taranaki Education Board, waited on the Minister on Educational matters.

Mr. Trimble referred to the site for the Yogeltown school. Two years ago a site of one acre had been bought, the Department linding £225 and the residents £2OO. N 0 grant wag received tor a building. The Department then said that the site was too small, and the Hoard negotiated for an adjoining two and a-half acres, for which £250 was asked. The Government valuation tor this was only £lsu, which the Department thought fair, but the Board's solicitors had advised that the land could not be taken under the Public Works Act for less than £250. He therefore asked for an extra grant pf £IOO and a building grant. The Minister said £375 had been authorised and £225 spent, leaving £lao. He did not like taking the land, nor did he like to pay more than was fair. He would look at the site to-dav and consider the question. Mr. Trimble then asked for a reinstatement of the Oaonui school residence, recently burnt. The proposed building would cost £515. This was a case where a residence was necessary. The .Minister said the matter was under consideration, and he would look into it on his return to Wellington. Observation schools were next referred to. Mr. Trimble said the Board was anxious to specially equip and stallcertain schools as models for the instruction of inexperienced teachers The instructors at these schools would require specially high salaries, and the Department had alwavs said that there was no authority to pay these. The .Uinister said it was a question ot policy and alteration of the law. ' He believed in observation schools, but could make no promise. He would consider the matter when drafting next session's Bill.

Mr. Trimble then drew attention to tho question of subsidising the moneys raised by school committees by contribution, a district high school had a £1 for £1 subsidy on these moneys, and he asked for the same treatment for primary school committees. Mr. Allen admitted the injustice of this, and said he had tried to do away with it last year. The principle to be observed, however, was that the State should provide sufficient to run the schools decently apart from public subscription. The rtmouuts paid to committees by dill'erent education boards varied. Mr, Trimble suid that his Board paid committees as much as it could afford already. The Minister said he would consider the question of subsidies and relation of boards to committees. Mr. R. Masters then drew attention to the fact that the playground of the Stratford school provided only half an acre for 700 children. There was a residence on the ground DO years' old, and the committee wished to "sell this building, let the teacher take his house allowance, as he was willing to do, and use the site of the residence as a playground. An application to tho Department in July last had not been replied to. '

The Minister took plans of the grounds, and promised to consider the matter.

-Mr. Trimble referred to the playground at the West End school, which was too small for 500 children. There was a vacant seetion adjoining, which the owner refused to sell, and tiie Board wished to take it under the Public Works Act.

The Minister will look at the land to-day, and consider the matter Messrs. S. (). Smith and J. Down, waited on the Minister on behalf of the \ovth Taranaki School Committees' Association. Mr. Smith acted as spokesman. The matters touched on were those discussed at the conference of the Education Board and the Association about six weeks ago, and dealt with, mcreaeed capitation to the Board to enable it to pay more to the committees finding an instructor and apparatus for physical and gymnastics instruction in Taranaki schools, and increases of salaries to school teachers, especially those entering l the service. Mr Smith, briefly referred to each point. the Minister pointed out that the Department did not fix the capitation and gave the same replv regarding subsidies as he did to the members of the Board. Regarding gymnastics and physical culture, this was being dealt with, but the stalf needed increasing. He promised to consider the views of the deputation.

Mr. Downs referred to the matter of enlarging the area of tho present education district, which was dealt with by the Board's deputation, and is reported elsewhere. He also referred to the handicap which country candidates were, under in having to come to town tor their examinations, now that these were all held on the same day. The Minister promised to look into the matter. KOADINd MATTERS. Mr. H. Trimble waited on the Minister as chairman of the Moa Road Board. Last session the Board had been granted £IOO towards improving the fcgmont road. No authority had been given to spend it, and the plans could not be passed till this was done. The .Minister promised to refer the Works' t0 "'" Mi " isteV for PuWic - Mr. Trimole then said his Board wanted loans. It had applied at Var- «" 8 , U, TJI r Um tor tlle Everett 4.3000 or the Lepper road, and had been told th.re was no monev in the Mate (..'.uranieed Advances " DopartThc Minister advised him to apply "Bain, licst, lotions on such loau lad been remover money was easier, and would be easier.

MILITARY -MATTERS. His Worship the Mayor (Mr 0 W then appeared in connection with the •hooting trophies competed for amone the junior cadets until tho-y were disbanded. TJiev asked that these shouW petition 6 6en ' 9r tm " iQI ««'

The Minister said this was only reasonable, and he would inquire into tno matter. Three NW Zealand war veterans, Wright informed the Minister that t'ey had served in the wars but had not the medals which wen- given to those actually unuer lire. ( > Hin to tM ' tUm- W - ? 0t ** pensions TO-liaVS I'UOGKAMME. in!! am -!- a y<' 'or Oil Wells. 0.30 «.«,._ H igh School Board visit Bits for proposes! Girls' High School a. o piesent girls' school. K ***' "igh School. <U, a.m.-V, gl t Central Sehool. 11.30 a.m.-Dcputation High School Board at Board's office l p.m.-Leave for Show Grounds U0 p.m.-VMt Coronation UUI and re•e,ve deputation re leasing ,£»' to Defence Department. b « P-m.-Smoke Concert.