SCHOOL FUNDS.

Taranaki Daily News, 26 April 1922, Page 6

SCHOOL FUNDS.

QUESTION OF SUBSIDIES. THE DEPARTMENT CRITICISED. “The attitude of the Department regarding payment of claims for subsidies is hard to understand,’’ stated the report of the Central school committee to the annual meeting of householders on Monday. The report was referring to the fact that as yet the committee had received no definite reply to their application for a subsidy, and, after making the above comment, continued: Addressing the Dominion school committees conference in October last the Hon. Minister of Education congratulated the school committees on the increased interest shown in primary school work during the year. Over a period of nearly a quarter of a century, during which he had been connected with education in one way or another, he had not known any years im which such keen interest had been shown as during the past year. All through New Zea land committees were keen to find funds for the improvement of school grounds and environments. Two committees had found over £lOOO each, and he heard of another case in Christchurch of £9OO being raised. These voluntary efforts were becoming embarrassing to the Minister. He was delighted to see money being raised this way. He rejoiced to know that all over New Zealand the committees were out to help the Minister and the boards to make the properties helpful and useful to the little ones.

But in the following December the Department came along and per circular intimated that claims for very substantial sums were bring received, and while they did not wish to alter the principle of paying subsidies, a limit must be placed on the payment of the full amount in the meantime, particularly when they were large. All claims would still be considered. They might be approved provisionally, that is to say, while the claim is approved the payment of the subsidy in whole or part might he deferred. Then later, new regulations were issued, which really in effect said, claims for payment of subsidies on money raised by voluntary effort should be discourag' d.

In supplementing this report the chairman (Mr. S. G. Smith. M.P.), said he thought the department ought to encourage to the fullest extent the raising of money by voluntary effort for the improvement of school grounds.