EDUCATION ECONOMIES.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 135, 9 June 1932, Page 15

EDUCATION ECONOMIES.

MINISTER'S EXPLANATION. NEW SCHOOL AT OTAHUHU. OFFICIAL OPENING CEREMONY. A hopeful note was struck by the Hon. R. Masters, Minister of Education, in officially opening the Otahulm Junior High School in the presence of a large gathering yesterday afternoon. ''We are not going to have the depression with us all our lives, and I hope the time is not far distant when we shall he able to reinstate the benefits we have taken away," he declared. 011 arrival at the school grounds the Minister received a salute i rom the school cadets, who paraded in uniform. He was welcomed, on behalf of the people of Otahuhu, by the Mayor, Mr. 11. 1). Clements. Enthusiasm was the keynote of the ceremony, and the school children, who sang the school song, "Forty \eai.-> On," heartily cheered each speaker. The chairman of the school committee, Mr. C. R. Petrie, said that it had to be admitted that the Minister had met the problems that were vital to the existence of the schools and the welfare of the children with fairness and tact. In the main he had not impoverished the educational system or caused any undue burden to be placed on the school committees. The Otahuhu committee had been wholeheartedly with the Minister in his efforts to resist the pressure of | the Economy Commission.

''We are prowl of til is building, which was dosigncd by our own architect," declared Mr. A. limns, chairman of the Auckland Education Board. Mr. Burns said that Mr. Masters' experience with the Taranaki Education Board undoiib-, teilly qualified him for his Ministerial duties. Functions of New School. The headmaster of the school, Mr. 1. W. Martin, M.A„ B.Se. said that the school, which cost over .01.000, functioned as a junior high school a grammar school and a technical school, and it waa hoped that in the near future it would also function as an evening technical school. Thus it embraced all the features recognised as essential in postprimary education. For too long, lie said, education had been narrowed down to book learning alone, but now it was recognised that it had to be a preparation for real life. Reference to Otahuhu's fortunate position in the matter of schools was made by the member for the district, Mr. W. W. Massey. The previous Minister of Education, Mr. H. Atniore, he said, deserved to be remembered ill connection with the school. After Mr. Masters had planted an English oak tree in the front portion of the grounds ho was presented with ail ornamental key to the school. Coin - liiencing his address, the Minister said that the people of Otahuhu would be interested to learn that the whole of the amount at present available to him for capital expenditure for new schools was not as much as the cost of the single school ho was declaring open. Parents would readily be able to appreciate the change that had come over the finances of the country. There were great, opportunities in the school, said the Minister, and ho expressed the hope that the children of the district would take advantage of them and become good citizens. Increased Cost.

Continuing, Mr. Masters said that he desired publicly to express on behalf of tho Government appreciation of the work done by education boards and school committees throughout the Dominion. Touching on the present difficulties confronting the Department, he said that in 1014 flic total cost ot education had been £1,472,000, but in 1930-31 it had risen to £4,174,000. The financial position of flic country had forced the Government to seek economies, and education had had to carry its fail share.

After referring to the heavy drop in national receipts the Minister said the Government had been faced with tho position of having either to increase taxes or to institute economics. Naturally it had decided to try the economies first. As far as tho education vote was concerned, it was anticipated that by the end of 1934, when all the economies would be fully operative, there would bo a saving of £1,154,000 compared with tho amount spent on education last year. In the main those economies had been brought about in administration, and -school committees had not been aflcctcd. Tho Economy Commission had recommended a reduction in the capitation grants to committees, but that had not been adopted. Other of the Commission's recommendations that had been turned down wore the abolition ot native scholarships, the abolition of the school journal, the closing of Grade 0 schools, tho free transport of school children by rail, cancellation of the issue of free books, and the imposition of a fee for the proficiency examination. In reviewing economies, said Mr. Masters, ho always had the thought of tho boys and girls attending school uppermost in his mind and he tried as best he could to effect the economics out of administrative charges. In 1930 one-third of the Government's revenue had been spent in social services, namely £0,750,000. From 191S to 1930 there had been enormous increases in the following items of expenditure:— Hospital subsidies, health, dental livMcne, maternity benefits, education, I child welfare and 'Plunket. Society. Pension payments had also increased by over £1,500j000. •Vt the conclusion of the ceremony the visitors, who included many prominent educationists, inspected the school and j had afternoon tea.