CAPITATION GRANTS

Dominion, Volume 23, Issue 56, 29 November 1929, Page 12

CAPITATION GRANTS

SCHOOL COMMITTEES PROTEST DEPARTMENT DENIES ANY REDUCTION School committees in Wellington and suburbs have lately been holding meetings to protest against reduction of the capitation allowance by the Education Department. Resolutions have been carried at all meetings, some of them containing a threat of resignation unless the previous allowance is made. Combatting the allegations of Mr. P. Hennessey, chairman of the Te Aro School Committee, on Wednesday night, Mr. A. Bell, Assistant Director of Education, denies that there has ever been any reduction in the capitation grant. He is supported in this statement by Mr. T. Forsyth, chairman of the Wellington Education Board, who explains the position fully and suggests a remedy.

NO REDUCTION IN THE ALLOWANCE

A denial was given yesterday by Mr. A. Bell, Assistant Director of Education, to the remarks made by Mr. P. Hennessy, chairman of the Te Aro School Committee, at the meeting of householders on Wednesday night, that the Education Department had cut down the monthly allowance to school committees. “The Education Department,” declared Mr. Bell, “has made no reduction in the allowances to school committees during the past ten years, and the grants to-day are as high as ever they were.” What Has Happened. When approached on the subject, Mr. T. Forsyth, chairman of the Wellington Education Board, said that Mr. Bell’s statement to the effect that there had been no reduction in the school capitation was quite correct. The capitation was given to the schools on the basis of average attendance, but even in the palmy days of most of the schools that amount was insufficient for the proper upkeep of the schools. As the schools grew old they required more spent upon them in the way of cleaning and repairs, and in the case of certain mid-city schools the average attendance was likely to drop through the population moving out to the suburbs. That was precisely the case of the Te Aro, Newtown and Clyde Quay schools. With a struggle these schools had in years past been able to keep going on the Government capitation, but money did not go so far as it used to twenty years ago, and at the same time such old schools required a good deal of attention to keep them fit for occupation. ■ As the attendance dropped so did the capitation, so that it became a hard matter for the committee to make ends meet and still keep the school clean and. the classrooms warm in the winter time. A Fairer Basis. Recognising that certain of the school committees were really up against it, the board had some time ago decided to supplement the capitation to some slight extent, but as the board’s finances grew too weak to stand the strain that help was withdrawn, and the board then decided to pay out to each school exactly what the Government allowed and leave it at that. This meant a drop in the income of the Te Aro School of £B2 per anuum, and I believe it amounted to some £65 per annum in the case of the Clyde Quay School. The position now was that the school committees would probably hang on and do what was necessary until the money given them by way of capitation was exhausted ; then they would have to cease all activities that called for the expenditure of moneys. Mr. Forsyth said he held the view that the capitation grant on average attendance was all very well up to a point, but a fairer way of providing for cleaning charges'would be on floor space, as irrespective of the number of pupils attending a school the same amount o' cleaning had to be done. SEATOUN SCHOOL A representative meeting of householders of the Seatoun school district was held in the school. on Wednesday. Mr. P. L. Hodge presided. The acting-chairman of the committee, Rev. A. A. Armstrong, referred to the financial position in which primary schools were placed and the failure of the Government to meet the unsatisfactory conditions as set out by the large deputation which recently waited upon the Prime Minister. The position, he said, was keenly felt by all primary school committees, upon whom an unfair burden had been placed, necessitating oti their part a great deal of “cadging” to carry on the necessary work of the schools. Mr. R. .Semple, M.P., also addressed the meeting and stated that he would do his utmost during the next session, if this matter was not adjusted before then, to see that sufficient money was provided by the Government. The following resolution was unanimously carried: “That this meeting of .Seatoun householders strongly protests against the inadequate capitation granted •to primary school committees and heartily supports the action taken by the School Committee Associations throughout the Dominion in their recent request to the Government for increased capitation. It also deplores the refusal of the Government to adequately meet the situation. and urges the associations to coir tinue their efforts to secure the neee» sary finance essential to the carrying on of the worl; of the primary schools." ROSENEATH SCHOOL The following resolution was carried unanimously at a meeting of householders of the Roseneath School district on Wednesday night:—“That this meeting of householders desires to record a very strong protest at the attitude of the Government in declining to grant an increase in the capitation allowance for primary schools, and pledges itself to support the committee in furthering its claims. The householders desire to express their disapproval at any suggestion or contemplation of the committee resigning its position.” NORTHLAND SCHOOL The' annual meeting of the Northland Home and School Association was held at the Northland School on Wednesday night. There was an attendance of over fifty members. The secretary. Mrs. E. D. Good, presented the report and balance-sheet, which were adopted". During the year some £5O was handed to the school committee to be expended in lite interests of the children. 'l'lie matter of the inadequate grants to school committees was discussed. and the following resolution was carried unanimously:—"That this meeting of householders of the Northland School district learns with regret that the Government are unable to accede to the request of the school committees for an increase in the inadequate grants at present furnished for incidental expenses of primary schools, that it is also noted that the matter will receive the consideration of the Government at the end of th# financial year; and that it is the opinion of this meeting that the question a* to the action, if any, which should be taken, stand over until the next annual meeting of householders, when it is expected that the decision of the Government will be known.”