SCHOOL GRANTS.

Auckland Star, Volume LVI, Issue 184, 6 August 1925, Page 15

SCHOOL GRANTS.

THE SHARE OF AUCKLAND.

LEEWAY .AND EXPANSION

"1 think that Auckland has got .a fair proportion of Government grants in the last three years;" stated Mr.- A. Burns, chairman, at the meeting of the Education Board yesterday. In support of thiß he pointed out that grants to the board had totalled £98,249, in 1924 they amounted to £174,380, and in 1925 they have been £39,929. It was obvious from this that there had been no neglect of this district; and it had to be recognised that the other districts of the Dominion were also to be considered equally. During the war the district had got far back, and there was much leeway to make up after the war. The Minister had made an effort to do it through annual appropriations, rather than have a special education loan, and it had to be admitted his effort was a good one. Still there was yet some leeway to make up, and the board at present had 40 applications in for new schools.

Mr. Boddie: Can it not be definitely ascertained how- Auckland compares with other districts on a school population basis?

Mr. Brownlie: The Minister admits we have got a lot. Mr. Boddie: The people outside the district do not seem" to" grasp the fact that our growth is infinitely greater than that of any other district. The Chairman: More than the rest of the Dominion put together. The eeoretary stated that a-compara-tive statement of the school population *S 8 £ uckland district and of the rest of the Dominion for several years could be obtained, .but he could not make it a comparative statement of all the Education Board districts.

-.J?'. The growing population makes new schools the chiefneed in this district and they are more expensive than additions.