MINISTERIAL STATEMENT.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 13645, 31 January 1910, Page 4

MINISTERIAL STATEMENT.

(rr.ESS ASSOCIATION TELECBAM.) WELLINGTON, January 29. The recently announced reduction of tlic building grants by the Education Lopartment to tho Boards, was the subject of sonse remarks by tho Hon. G. Fowlds'to a "Post ,, reporter. '•Seme Boards," ho said, "talk as if these, grants that are being cut arc <M-unt,s for new biiildin-js. It has absolt telv nothing to do with the question of new buildings in the newly-SQttlod diitt'-N'ts, or with additions to buildings rocessitatod by increased attendance. Grants are still .made directly from the D'partment to make provision tor cases of this kind. Grants for the maintenciice and repairs of schools remain exactly where th«y were before. ' What was* cut down, according to the Minister, was biraply the allowance that hal been paid for a number of years on an eren basis, for tho purpose of rebuilding old schools. In the last kve or six years specific grar.ta for the purpose amounted to aßout £g9jQOO more than tho Boards grants vera made spent for thaV pttrptee. '1 do not think," added Mr Fowlds, 'there is one Board in New Zealand that could show that it has spent more on le-building work on schools than his been paid to it by tho Department for that purpose. The fact h>, that a Mod many.Boards have been usinc a considerabb portion of this money in general work, a purpose for tvjuch they did not get it."