RETRENCHMENT BY THE BOARD OF EDUCATION.

Auckland Star, Volume XXV, Issue 145, 19 June 1894, Page 5

RETRENCHMENT BY THE BOARD OF EDUCATION.

OPINION OF COMMITTEES

At to-day's meeting of the Board of Education, a communication was read from the Devouporto School Committee, enclosing a resolution passed by the Committee to the effect that the reduction of the salary of teachers recently decided upon by the Board, is calculated to injure the cause of education, and trusting that the reductions proposed would be restored to the teachers ailucted at the earliest possible moment. The following; communication was also, read frosa the Wairoa South School Committee :—" Clevedon, June 14, 1894. At a meeting of the Wairoa School Committee, held ou the 13th inst., the following resoldLion was carried unanimously, ' That this Committee has great pleasure in placing on record the result of the majority of the members of the Board of Education, who passed ab the meeting on the sth instant tho reductions recommended by the Finance Committee, and believe that a large majority of the taxpayers will heartily support fchuft decision. It is noted particularly that the minority voting on that occasion are not tillers ot the soil, from whom the taxes principally are raised to pay teachers' salaries. That the cost of living is at present from 25 to 50 per cent, less than ib was for years past, which fact we tillers of the soifhave ample proof by the miserablo returns received for our products, giving us a bare existence for 72 co 90 hours' work per week, in mire and Blush, and no holidays, against the teachers' 25 hours' per week in eaae anil comfort, with nearly one-third parb of the year holidays, and on comparison good living, with no risk of capital, having none invested. That to emphasise this resolution the Committee from past experience is prepared to do with one-half tho stationery grant formerly allowed." Mr Lake said he took exception to the statement in the communication that the minority who voted on the occasion are nob tillers of tho soil. He (Mr Luke) claimed that he was a tiller of the soil, und Mr Woodward had done his share. The statement was untrue, and it destroyed the value of the Committee's letter. Mr Lambe thoughb it was useless to go into the subject. Mr Udy said that three letters from three Committees had been received protesting against the retrenchment scheme of the Board and accusing them of squandering money. He thought it only right the state of affairs relative to the three Committees complaining should be fully known. During fhe last three years tho Devonport Committee had been voted a sum of £163 2s lOd for tarring and sanding, fencing and general work about the school ground. If the Board squandered their money, the Devotiport Committee had their share. The sum of £199 16a 8d had also been voted to the Parnell Committee during tho last three years for little matters in connection with the school. A sum of £140 15s lid had likewiße been voted to the Remuera Committee, bo that the dieeatisfied Committees had a fair picking oub of what had been going. , The Rev. J. Bates said that some ot the Commiteeeß had subscribed handsomely. Mr Muir said individual members of the Committee had told him the Board bad done perfectly right. . Mr Udy said no donbo they naa dealt very liberally with the Committees, and done more for them than any Education Board he knew. The wetter then dropped.