SCHOOL COMMITTEES' ALLOWANCES

Press, Volume LXXI, Issue 21584, 21 September 1935, Page 14

SCHOOL COMMITTEES' ALLOWANCES

"GROSSLY INADEQUATE" The incidental allowances to school committees were strongly criticised as grossly inadequate at a meeting of the North Canterbury branch of the New Zealand Educational Institute last evening, and a motion was passed unanimously urging that the Government be called upon to make adequate provision, especially for heating and cleaning, It was later decided that the resolution should be sent to the Canterbury School Committees' Association, local members of Parliament and to the Canterbury Education Board. Mr G. D. Ashton, who moved the motion, said that it was time that school committees should not need to go about cadging for almost everything that the school required. For a certain school the capitation allowance from the department was £ 180, of which £ 140 was paid to a caretaker, and the remaining £4O used for heating. No house was provided for the caretaker and he was on duty all day. With that state of affairs it was impossible for the school to provide necessities for the inside of the buildings. In London the schools were well provided for, and the allowance was 6s 3d a head. Caretakers were employed on scale rates, and could employ outside labour for which they would be reimbursed. In New Zealand they were even compel'edafo;' buy the sheets on which to; keep the department records. All they desired was comfort and Cleanliness, and with the present state ■ i^F" things they had no chance of getting any other facilities. Mr L. F. N. Ward, who seconded the motion, said that some schools were allowed fires only between specified dates. He mentioned that at the beginning of the month he had gone round three other Government departments and had found that they were very well provided for. Such treatment, however, was being denied to the children.

These were the only speakers, and the motion was then put and carried unanimously.