TEACHERS' RESIDENCES.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 301, 20 December 1937, Page 6

TEACHERS' RESIDENCES.

The task of rebuilding school teachers' residences is described by the Minister of Education, Mr. Fraser, as "enormous," and as

Minister in charge of the Police Department he added that there was "hardly a habitable police station or policeman's residence in t'.e Dominion." The Minister is seldom incautious in speech, but in this matter he seems to have exaggerated. Many teachers' and policemen's residences are out of date, but not necessarily uninhabitable. But the importance of providing good living accommodation, especially for those teachers and policpmen who are stationed in the country, can hardly be exaggerated. In considering making application for a rural appointment, the teacher usually knows that there is a "residence provided," but he (and, still more, his wife) wonders what kind of residence it is. The knowledge that the residence is new aid up to date may exercise a greater influence than any other inducement to take up a rural appointment. At present Education Boards are empowered to give special preference in jappointments to country teachers of two or ,more years' service; nevertheless, some I teachers decline to leave the town. The '.knowledge that there were better and cheapcr i,houses in the country than in the towns would Igo some way to altering that J