EDUCATION.

Taranaki Daily News, 11 July 1919, Page 5

EDUCATION.

PEItNY WISE, POUND FOOLISH POLICY. Mr R. Masters, chairman of the Taranaki Education Board, in urging upon the Minister for Education last week (reports the New Zealand Times) that the grants asked for by his board for certain school buildings should not be rfiduueed, so that the plans could be fully carried cut, said thai in this country in the past, by not providing adequate funds for the election of school l>uildlti£A and for educational purposos generally, we had.ipursuod a penny-wise and pound foolish policy. The large sum of money that was now required to remodel old buildings, and to provide for the extension of school grounds, or for new sites altogether was needed because of false economy in the past. Had sufficient funds been provided from time to time as the necessity arope. thousands of pounds of this expenditure would have been saved. The history of education in this and other countries showed that, owing to adequate funds not having been provided, very slow progress had been made in the educational field. To-day, however, the people were recognising! how short sighted the policy of the past had been, and were anxious to have ample funds for educational purposes to enable an extensive building programme to be proceeded with; and- now that the war was over the policy should be "Full steam ahead!" I

In reply, the Hon. J. A. Hanan said that an increased vote had been provided Inst year, and a larger building programme was thus rendered possible. He believed that the Government recognised that it was absolutely essential to substantially increase the education vote. The people to-day were anxious for up-to-date school buildings, efficient teachers, and a higher standard of educational work through the Dominion and these things could not be secured unless the necessary funds were provided.