College cost cuts?

Press, 9 April 1977, Page 12

College cost cuts?

: Considerable economies i would be needed within the ! Christchurch Teachers’ College if administration, teachj jng and library equipment exi penses continued to increase i in the wav they had in the i last two years, the college 'council was told on Wednesday. I These economies could not be achieved without some reduction in the range and quality of services available; to staff and students, said the chairman of the finance ' committee (Mr G. M. McNalj ly)- ; He said that while grants land income for administraition had increased bv 29 per I cent over the last two years, tthere had been a 60 per cent ! increase in administration i expenses. I These expenses included heating, lights and water, telephone rentals, and postage. Grants and income for teaching and library equipment had increased 17 per cent over the last two years, while expenditure in this area had increased by 34 per

cent, Mr McNally said. Because of the economic situation, it would seem that the college could not anticipate substantial increases in its grants and income, he said. Even though grants and income for administration had almost kept pace with average nrice increases, the type: of expenses the council spent its administration funds on had increased at a far greater rate over the last two years. Manv of the increases in these items were outside the council’s control, Mr McNallysaid. Without reducing the service to college staff and students, there were few opportunities for reducing the level of expenditure, and in turn losses in administration. Similarly, with teaching and library equipment, the college had had little opportunity to control expenditure on the library, and printing and stationery, without reducing the service to staff and students.

During the last two years the spending on teaching and

library equipment had been! increased at twice the rate of increase in grants to the| college. Mr McNally said, j Mrs N. J. Johnson suggested the college’s case be taken! to the Minister of Finance! (Mr Muldoon) or the Minis-j ter of Education (Mr Gandar) to indicate the difficulties faced. The chairman of the committee (Mr E. C, Robinson) said the Department of Education was well aware of the situation. The meeting agreed toj 'eave the matter with its finance committee, and a re-; port may be prepared.