VOLUNTARY CONTRIBUTIONS.

Taranaki Daily News, 9 November 1921, Page 7

VOLUNTARY CONTRIBUTIONS.

| MONEY FOR j RESTRICTION ON PAYMENT OF SUBSIDIES. A letter of importance to school committees was read at yesterday’s meetWg <>f the Taranaki Education Board, when it was learned that the Education Department propose to effect certain restrictions regarding the distribution of subsidies on voluntary contributions. The communication from the authorities read as follows:

J The department has recently received I claims for very substantial subsidies on j voluntary contributions. Thte Minister is very anxious that the policy of paying subsidies should not be altered lin principle, but, owing to the present I financial position, and the difficulty in I providing funds for all educatonal purposes throughout the Dominion, it is I found necessary to limit, for the time I being, the payment of the full amounts I claimed by boards, particularly when I these are large. I am therefore directed to inform you I that while all claims received by the I department will be considered as hitherto, they may be approved. only proI visionally, that is to say, while the claim is approved the payment, of the I subsidy in whole or in part may be deI ferred for the present and be made at I such times and in such .amounts as the I financial position allows. I It is therefore very necessary that j school committees should be advised I thAt, while it is quite open to them, I when informed that the purpose of the I voluntary contribution has been approvj ed, to- expend such sums as have been I raised locally and constitute the voluntary contribution, they should not commit themselves to any expenditure on the assumption that the whole or any portion of the subsidy will be immediately forthcoming. When the foregoing was read, Mr. R. Masters expressed the opinion that the | department was economising more than ! any other State institution in New Zea- | land, and apparenly was attempting to reduce expenditure in every direction. Mr. S. G. Smith, M.P., said the announcement would have the effect of discouraging committees in their efforts to improve the surroundings of schools, and to those who had already raised money it would be an obstacle in the matter of letting contracts.

The chairman (Mr. P. J. White) remarked that in New Plymouth during the last 18 months something like £l6OO had been raised.

Mr. Masters remarked that no doubt the public were making extra efforts to help themselves, in view of the country’s financial position, but he believed this move by the department would prove a setback. Subsequently it was decided, on the motion of Messrs. Smith and Lees, that the Minister be asked not to restrict in any way the payment of subsidies on voluntary contributions. The seconder expressed the opinion that the attitude taken up was going to be serious for committees.