FIGURES WANTED

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 300, 15 September 1936, Page 6

FIGURES WANTED

Education Board Finance COMMITTEES’ COMPLAINT Regret that the Welllugton Education Board did not see fit to make the contents of its balance-sheets available to school committees, who were vitally interested, was expressed last night at the monthly meeting of the Wellington School Committee and Educational Federation, and a motion was carried asking the board to publish a balancesheet and to forward a copy to school committees.

The chairman. Mr. J, Fyfe, said he. for one, was quite hazy as to how the amounts allocated to the committees were apportioned, and in his opinion it was important that committees should be in possession of such information.

Colonel T. W. McDonald, who was present by invitation, in answer to a question, said there was urgent necessity for publication. "I think if a true balance-sheet were presented, you would get your eyes opened,” he said, “You are entitled to know of the expenditure of public money. I have in mind some things in particular. I know of one glaring instance—of the expenditure of at least £lBO on one school where there was not even a committee but commissioners, and that money was subsidised again £ for £ out of public funds. If that were made known to all committees what would they think when there is such a scarcity of funds for their own schools? I shall do my best for the committees so long as I’m on the education board I have been twice censured within six months, but if the occasion arose I should take the same stand again. If you could be present at ;the board meeting when a letter from me is read, you would get your eyes opened.” A member: We’ll get it in the papers. Colonel McDonald: Oh, no! The board will see to that. Mr. C. H. Ball: Are we within our rights in asking this? Colonel McDonald: Quite. The motion was carried unanimously.