NOT TO BE SENT.

Auckland Star, Volume LVI, Issue 285, 2 December 1925, Page 9

NOT TO BE SENT.

j SCHOOL ATTENDANCE CHARTS. ! j OTAGO FEELING CONSIDERED. "I notice by the newspaper reports that we have given offence to the Otago Education Board by desiring to have certain graphs relating to school attendance sent to the Exhibition at Dunedin," stated Mr. A. Burns, tho chairman, at the Auckland Education Board's meeting to-day. There was no intention, he stated, of making any invidious comparison between Auckland and Otago, but we were actuated by a desire to justify our claims for expenditure on new schools and additions. The Auckland Board had no desire to disturb the harmony that had existed with the boards in other districts, and in consequence of the protest made by the Otago Board he had delayed the sending forward of the graphs. Mr. King explained that he had looked upon the graphs merely as useful information about the number of pupils attending the primary schools in the Dominion. As such they were interesting to residents from all parts of the Dominion, and also to overseas visitors to the education section of the Exhibition. There was no question of invidious comparison in his mind, and if the graphs were likely to give offence to the people of Dunedin, who had alwnvs held in his mind the position of the leaders of education in New Zealand, he felt that the graphs should not be sent. The board rescinded the motion to send the graphs to the Exhibition.