INCREASED VOTE FOR EDUCATION

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 69, Issue 268, 25 August 1949, Page 5

INCREASED VOTE FOR EDUCATION

NEED FOR MORE CLASSROOMS (P.A.) WELLINGTON, Aug. 24. A number of factors were responsible for the increase in the education vote, said the Minister of Education (the Hon. T. H. McCombs) during the Budget debate in the House of Representatives to-night. Me McCombs said that a recent survey had showed that there wae a shortage of 030 classrooms for schools. Contracts had been let for 370, and plans for most of the remainder were on the drawing-board. Various grants had been increased, and he was considering recommending to the Government to increase the intake of students to training colleges. After reviewing the position of bursaries, Mr, McCombs said that all bursars ,would in -future pay full tuition fees. Other adjustments had also been made. The number of students taking definite university courses had increased from 4700 in 1934 to 12,494 this year—the highest number there had ever been —and that would require increased rates of expenditure. The Opposition, '• even if it were in power, would not say it would decrease the expenditure on education, but he was fearful that if the Opposition did come into power, it would reduce the amount of money available for education, Mr McCombs said.