Expenditure on Education In N.Z. Reveals Decrease

Taranaki Daily News, 26 August 1942, Page 6

Expenditure on Education In N.Z. Reveals Decrease

According to the annual report submitted by the Minister of Education, the Hon. H. G. R. Mason. to Parliament, the total expenditure on education for the year ended March 31 last was £5.268.994, which was £132,129 less than in the previous year. Large numbers of teachers had entered the armed forces under the voluntary system. and because boards made very few appeals on behalf of teachers called up for military service there was a definite shortage of teachers during the latter part of 1941. By one means or another the situation was fairly adequately met. but there was every indication that for the second half of 1942 the position would be extremely serious. Much more drastic steps would have to be taken if the education of some children was not to be seriously interfered with. In particular it would be necessary to take power to distribute the available teaching strength to the best advantage. The amount on the estimates for public school libraries was raised from £5000 to £15.000. The roll of the public primary. schools of the Dominion appears to be practically stationary, having decreased from 190,997 on July 1, 1940, to 190,103 a year later.