EDUCATION CUTS ‘WILL BE MADE’

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32540, 25 February 1971, Page 12

EDUCATION CUTS ‘WILL BE MADE’

Cuts in spending on education being considered by the Government at present might put education in New Zealand back by 15 years, the president of the New Zealand School Committees’ Federation said in Christchurch last evening.

Mrs M. A. Rae was commenting on her return from Wellington, where she spoke with the Minister of Educa-

tion (Mr Taiboys) on the possibilities of Govern-

ment reductions in education spending. “Mr Taiboys made it quite clear that cuts in education

spending will have to be made to achieve the Gov-

emment’s goal of a reduction in spending to a 4 per cent increase on last year’s estimates,” she said. “And he added that there was not just a list of eight items for reduction but the list was as large as 30 items.” Mrs Rae said that she had originally gone to speak with Mr Taibays on the need for more finance to improve old school buildings, to provide extra clerical assistants at primary schools and to build country library centres for schools in the Whangarei and Gisborne districts. “And we found that these are some of the items that may be subjected to cuts.” Mrs Rae said that in the last 15 years the Government had accepted responsibility for textbooks, a wide range of subsidy items, libraries, improved building codes, ex-

tended ancillary services and reduced class ratios. “If these cuts in expenditure are made then the parents are going to have to find more money to provide these services themselves.” The slowing down the replacement of old school buildings was a matter of grave concern, Mrs Rae said. “If schools were under the Shops and Offices Act then hundreds of old classrooms would, have been condemned long ago. I believe that parents, school committees and teachers will have to fight aggressively for the conditions they believe the Government should provide,” Mrs Rae said. A second deputation to the Minister yesterday was from the Education Boards Association, led by its chairman (Mr L. A. Lorrigan).