SCHOOL COMMITTEES

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3142, 21 July 1917, Page 13

SCHOOL COMMITTEES

-——♦— BEQUEST FOE MORE i'UNDS. . A deputation representing school committees in nil parts of ino .Dominion waited upon tho Hon. J. A. Hanun, Minister of Education, yesterday afternoon, to urge tbe provision of increased' incidental allowances I" school cummittees. several of Parliament accompanied tho deputation, which was introduced by .Mr. G. Witty.. "Jt is impossible to make .both ends meet with tlio present allowances," 'declared Air. Witty, "if you don't givo more thero will be a feeling throughout tho country that you nro not graliiiiig justice to the schools." Members of tho deputation urged thin, the present allowauco was hopelessly inadequata -to maintain schools, nwMhe members of committees and their wives had to go round soliciting funds for tbo schools. They did not think it was fair that they should havo to raise funds by concerts and liko entertainments. "tt was decided that tho members of tho House should interview the Minister again. Mr. Kalian , said lie was not in a position to commit the Governinont witnout its approval to tho request that had been made, but the representations made would be brought beforu Cabinet with a view to their consideration, and for Cabinet to say wfiift amuunb ivould bo allocated. As a result of examining education boards' accounts, ho lind found a state of affairs not satisfactory. Thevo was evidence of drift that called for remedial treatment. IDs path had not been a very easy one becausa of this. The question of finance was a very important uiie. AVlion a request was made to the Minister the deputation lost eight of the fact that ho had not only to oonfiider a graut in that direction, but also consider it in conjunction with, many other applications in regard to the pubhu service What the educational items on the Estimates this year would be ho was unable to say—that was for Cabinet to determine. When they asked for increased capitation they had to consider what it would amount to all' over New Zealand. They found that Canterbury complained much moro strongly in regard to their position than the other districts. These appeared to be able to do with tho present allowances, but Canterbury w.ns not. Members of the deputation: We are not ablo to. , , Tho Minister said that what he had to consider wns not one district, but, the whole of New Zealand. Members of the deputation: \7e are all in the same.box. Tho Minister said the Canterbury, Education Board hnd been given an allowance much greater than the otlw?_boards of New Zealand. Ho did not know whether it was "not a Rood thing for people to help education by assisting the schools in dift'erentlocalities. He thought this principle or 6elf-help a great thing.