EDUCATION ECONOMIES.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 148, 24 June 1932, Page 3

EDUCATION ECONOMIES.

RAISING OF SCHOOL AGE.

CONFERENCE WITH M.P.'S.

Remits from the various committees dealing with education economies were considered at a conference held on Wednesday between delegates to the Auckland Primary School Committees' Association and Auckland members of Parliament. A resolution was carried affirming opposition to the raising of the school age. Addressing the delegates, Mr. A. J. Stallworthy, M.P. for Eden, referred to the petition presented by him to Parliament last session on behalf of the association, asking that the printing of school text books be submitted to public tender, and said that if no decision were reached by Cabinet before the main session further petitions would be presented. Kegarding the association's protest against the raising of the permissive school entrance iigc, Mr. Stallworthy eaid the legislation which had been passed was a retrograde step. Parents, teachers, children and school committees would all be adversely affected by the change. He deprecated the confusion and danger inherent in the method of making vital alterations to established Acts by promiscuous clauses in a corporate bill.

Mr. A. Harris, M.P. for Waitcinata, said he had voted for the raising of the school age after going thoroughly into the question. The change would save the Government about £120,000 a year. Tn other matters of conviction he had voted against the Cfovernment, as he believed a member of Parliament should not be a mere cog in a machine.

Mr. W. E. Parry, M.P. for Auckland Central, said he could hope for no educational reforms from a starvation policy, and declared that a new currency system was what was required.

Mr. F. AV. Schramm, M.P. for Auckland East, snid he was in favour of free school books to all.