WORK FOR BOYS

Dominion, Volume 26, Issue 68, 13 December 1932, Page 10

WORK FOR BOYS

Educational Federation VIEWS OF MEMBERS “Will Not Replace Men” A meeting of the Wellington School Committees and Educational Federation, presided over by Mr. F. AV. Ongley, was held last evening. Letters were received from several school committees complimenting the federation on taking such prompt action in connection with the embargo against committees holding euchre and card parties in aid of school funds, and endorsing the view that the Government should increase the capitation to make up for the loss of such means of self-support. In regard to boy employment, it was reported by a committee that the supposition that boys were being taken on in substitution of men was a mere bogey, as they could discover no case of the kind. The chairman made it clear that the policy of the federation was to employ the boys as supernumaries, not to replace men. Mrs. I. Robinson said she had doubts as to whether the engagement of boys, as old as 18 years, for 5/- a week would possibly militate against the chances of men getting work. It would be best to get the men employed. Comment was made that they should be careful what criticism they made, as the movement was a genuine one by earnest citizens, who were doing their best to do what they could to get employment for the boys. Mr. AV. H. Phillips said he would sooner see boys of his at work even at 1/- a week than hanging round corners smoking cigarettes. In his opinion the movement was a most laudatory one, and quoted one case where a man had taken on several boys at 10/- a week. School Holidays. Some comment was offered in connection with correspondence between the federation and the board in connection with the synchronisation of school holidays. The association had written on behalf of the Lyall Bay School Committee, and instead of replying to the federation the reply was forwarded direct to the school committee.

Mr. L. Hennessy understood that the board could not officially recognise the federation. He thought that it was discourteous on the part of the secretary of the board. Mr. T. Forsyth, chairman of the board, said the question from Lyall Bay was an unnecessary one, as the matter had been disposed of long ago. As to the sending of the letter, he had thought it had been sent under a misapprehension. Mr. N. A. Ingram (secretary) quoted the dates of the correspondence as evidence that the action was deliberate. Mr. Nicholls suggested that Mr. Ingram should have a talk with Mr. Hylton, as by writing letters they would only get deeper in the mud,. Mr. C. H. Pinnock said he had never received anything but the greatest courtesy from the officers of the board, and if the secretary was not satisfied he should see Mr. Hylton and talk it over with him. Mr. L. J. McDonald said that possibly the Lyall Bay committee thought that tlie matter would come with more weight from the federation than from themselves, and under the circumstances the federation was entitled to a courteous reply to Its communications. A Ministerial Letter. Mr. McDonald also reported briefly on the recent school committees’ associations, and also read the Minister of Education’s reply to the remits submitted by the conference. As regards the minimum school age the Minister said that the age was five years and five months, so that the position was not so bad as some people imagined. As regard grade O schools, the Minister said that the Government had decided, in the face of tlie National Expenditure Commission’s report, that each case was to be taken on its merits; and that since that report several grade O schools had been established. In regard to the boarding allowance, the Minister said that this had been withdrawn as a measure of economy, and he regretted that it could not be reinstated at the present juncture. “With regard to capitation,” continued the Minister, “I would point out that the Government declined to adopt a recommendation made by the National Expenditure Commission that the capitation should be reduced by 10 per cent. The present allowance is the maximum that can be paid, having regard' to tlie condition of the country's finances. In connection with subsidies tlie Government decided not to give effect to the commission’s recommendation that these should be withdrawn permanently, and when finance became easier it is intended to revert to the former system of granting subsidies. It is recognised that much valuable work is done by committees in raising voluntary subscriptions for school purposes.” The chairman said in regard to railway facilities for the children it seemed to him that no economy was effected by cutting out the children, as tlie trains had tp run in any case.