CORRESPONDENCE. THE SCHOOL GRANT.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3736, 14 February 1891, Page 2

CORRESPONDENCE.

THE SCHOOL GRANT.

| To the Editor,]

Sir,—l am pleased to see that public attention is being called to the attitude of the Town Lands Trustees towards the School Committees. As you have already pointed out, there has been a complete change of front by the Trustees. Mr Lowes, in his letter, states that Trustees have voted, and lie believes will continue to vote against repairs to Government property. He would have been nearer the mark if he had said that for years past they have voted money in aid of Government schools, but that this jear, for some unknown reason, they have altered their mind. No one pressed upon the Trustees the claims the schools more forcibly than Mr Lowes himself when he was a member of the School Committee. Now that he is Chairman of the Trust, he has suddenly awoke to the fact that they ought not to get anything. The School Committees have, I think, two very good reasons for claiming assistance. In the first instance the Trust Act is in their favor, and in the second instance they want the money to carry on efficiently the works of the schools. A legal opinion has been obtained on the first point which clearly proves—if it needs proving—that the schools, according to the Act, have a prior claim on the Trust. The law says that th 9 funds of the Trust shall be spent on "public educational establishments.'' This is the main object of the Trust. The maintenance of a library como as a secondary matter. The working of the Act is most explicit, and if our schools are not " public educational establishments" I should like to know what they are. Then as to the second point. The money is needed. It is a notorious fact all over the country that the capitation allowance is insufficient for the requirements of our school. Committees are everlastingly going round with the hat to supplement their funds. Why should we have to resort to such a disagreeable method when we have a wealthy Trust in our midst constituted for this purpose ? Our schools, for many years, have occupied the highest place in the;ediicational district.They havebeen well equipped with all the necessaries for carrying on the work ; and when ! any vacancy occurred we had the best men in the district to pick from. This is due in a large measure to the grants we have been receiving from Trustees for years past. We have had conveniences and advantages which other schools do not possess and consequently we have reached a high standard of excellence. We are proud of our splendid schools and the position they have taken in the past, and I think every one in the district would regret to see their usefulness impaired. It is all nonsense to say that if we get grants from the Trust tb' Board will withhold our share o. Government money. The schools here will be treated by the Board just as other schools are treated, and what we get from the Trust will be extra. Mr Lowes states that no money will be voted for repairs to Government property. This is as much as to say that no help will be given. If committees cannot spend the grants as they have been doing, for the benefit of the schools generally, then the grants are useless. Surely men who are elected by the people to manage the schools can be trusted with the expenditure of a few pounds, and if a balance sheet is submitted to the Trust every year to prove that the provisions of the Act have been complied with, they should be satisfied. lam strongly of opinion that the Trustees on this question are not in harmony with the wishes of the people. I think it would be wise to test the feeling of the public and so settle the matter. —lam, etc.,

D. McGregor, Chairman, Fernridge School Committee,