PATCHING UP EDUCATION.

Auckland Star, Volume L, Issue 251, 22 October 1919, Page 10

PATCHING UP EDUCATION.

"",.-• — -■■ HOUSE CRITICISES THE BILL. SCHOOL CXXAIMITTEE CHAMPIONS. DECENTRALISATION URGED. (By Telegraph—Special to "Star.") WELLINGTON, Tuesday. Tbe Education Amendment Bill, which was referred last week to the Education Committee without a second reading debate, came up for discussion in tho House to-day. and members eagerly seized upon it as a good subject for rending in a mildly furious manner. The Hon. D. H. Guthrie took c'hnrge of the bill (in the absence of Sir James Allen), and, in moving to have it. committed, stated that its principal object was to equalise grants so that smaller Education Boards would receive better allowances. He knew there was objection by some of the larger Boards, but the Education Department had worked out the scale of payments, and found that the losses would be sustained hy Boards able to bear it, and the increases would go to Boards in need of more money. Mr. .]. A. Hanan (ex-Minister of Education) expressed the hope that there would be a more comprehensive measure next session, as a number ot important proposals appeared to have been dropped. Radical proposals required to he adopted. The large Education Boards were on a splendid financial footing. Auckland Education Board, for instance, had obtained almost full grants for buildings from the Consolidated Fund, and had also obtained help in connection with the salaries of relieving teachers. He strongly urged increasing the minimum annual grant to boards for 1 assistame to School Committees from -750 to .11000. There was a gap between primary and secondary schools which he hoped" would be tilled next: session. The basis of election of Education Boards ought to be made fairer n«[ between town and country, and the Kindergarten system ought to be in-! eluded in the main education system.' He considered the amount of' child labour in New Zenlnnd was n scandal! and a disgrace. Tt ought to be dealt with this session, an.l be proposed to move a clause on the subject. "It is our duty, in the interests of humanity, to stop «hat is going on," added' the speaker. Mr. Malcolm stated that the proposed I increase to committees only meant a I total of £0000. It was impossible in many country schools in Otago to pro! vide fire in winter. The < loverniiient wis 1 hound to provide funds for children's comfort. Many boards had supplemented grants to committees. Mr. Sidoy remarked that, as the bill was admittedly a stop-gap measure, he would not advocate general reforms. Mc hoped something more wouhl be done 1o improve the financial position of school committees. Mr. C. .1. J'arr also nppealed lo the Minister to be more generous to school committees, ns the increase made did not meet the situation. The School Committee representatives who interviewed the Education Committee were under the impres.-ion that the increased grant proposed in the bill was entirely new, though it included an increase of £14,000 made since the commencement of the war. Not the least important reform needed was to pay teachers according to merit instead of on the average attendance. Severnl other members expressed disappointment with the general inndcquacy of the increases to assist boards and committees, each speaker stressing the need for greater recognition of school committees. FINANCIAL DIFFICULTIES. Mr. Wilkinson suggested that the allowance for smaller boards should bo either increased to £1000 or a straightout grant made per child. Another matter he urged on the Government was the giving of permission to education boards to expend money out of the unauthorised expenditure account. Mr. Wilkinson also spoke very strongly against the centralisation of educational government in Wellington, contending that more power should be given education boards. Mr. Wilford: I can't congratulate the Government on this bill, but we shall have to take it as part payment of what is, to come after the general elections. Dr. Newman: A very shabby little bill, dealing with the education service. (Laughter.) lam sorry the Government has not come down with a measure attempting something to improve the position of salaries. This bill deals with none of those reforms so badly needed. Mr. C. H. Poole expressed the opinion that the beat investment of national funds at the present time would be a generous investment in our school sys-. tern. He also warmly advocated the giving of greater powers to education boards, and of much more substantial assistance to school committees, many of whom nt present were striving, under almost insuperable difficulties, to carry on their work. Mr. Isitt declared himself a decided supporter of decentralisation, contending that the advantages of centralisation were far outweighed by its disadvantages. The debate was carried on till just before midnight, when the Minister rose to reply. THE MINISTER'S REPLY. Mr. Guthrie said there was a good deal of misconception regarding the reason for the introduction of the bill. There was a much larger measure prepared, but owing to tlie exigencies of tbe session it had to be curtailed to deal only with exceptionally urgent matters. The total amount spent on education buildings in New Zealand was about three millions, and the bill provided for an equal amount to be spent within the j next few years. As showing necessity for readjustment of subsidies to education boards for general expenses. Auckland had a credit of £.'1341 on last year's subsidy, while Nelson paid out £310 more than it received.