COST MUST GO UP

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 70, 23 March 1926, Page 9

COST MUST GO UP

ITHE EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM

•IR JAMES PARR'S CONVICTION

.YEARLY INCREASE INDICATED.

(By Telegraph.—Presi Association.) BLENHEIM, This Day. Sir James Parr arrived in Blenheim last night, and was'- tendered a civic 'reception by a fully representative gathering. The Mayor tendered the hearty congratulations and good wishes of the people of Marlborpugh ■ and expressed their faith that Sir James Parr would bring credit to himself and his country in his new office as High Commissioner. Sir James Parr, in reply, said he had no illusions as to :his now job. The thing that gave him- great courage was the faith his friends had in him that ha would not fail* The proceedings were marked by great enthusiasm. Interesting references to the subject o! education were .made by the Minister, his remarks being in the nature of a retiring address. THE TEACHERS1 SALARY. Sir James declared that he .was giving up tho portfolio" of Education with the deepest regret. 'Ho would always •rempmber that the welfare of the Empire was wrapped up in the education of its citizens of the-future. New Zealand was spending a great deal of money on education, three and a half millions/in fact, or one-eigl.th of the national income. .Some people said it was altogether too much, but if his hearers were with him sometimes when delegations and deputations besieged hi::i with requests for more expendi- • ture, they would realise- that there were thousands of people who believed that ho .should spend much more. It might astonish his hearers, but it was a fact, that 80 per cent, of the expenditure was i paid out in salaries" to teachers, professors,, inspectors, and so on. "I rejoice," declared the Minister, "that the teachers in my'term of office have had their emoluments increased, and. that to-day they af >. receiving fairly adequate salaries^-adequate, tut no more, mind you. There was a time ■when the salary of an educated, nay, . often a cultured man, was no more than .that of a successful watersidor; but I am thankful, that"that day: is past." There was no man in the whole community more influential than the teacher, and-he made no apologies for the size of the vote. for. salaries. ; REDUCTION OF VOTE IMPOSSIBLE. The■• vote of' 3^ _millions was more "than justified/ and it could only be reduced by attacking the mam fabric of education, by reducing it r\ essential points and destroying the efficiency of the schools. r No sfine; or" sensible man would raise the' argument of extravagance. Indeed, oir leaving the post of Minister of Education, he would assert ' that the -vote, should "not.be decreased, ' but must, '.and " would"'be increased, whether, the country liked it or not. The increase, the speaker estimated, must be between £58,000 and .£60,000 a'year." There was no escape, and the provision of the money would bring anxiety to the Government,. . the. Minister,'the boards, aiA the committees. He did not know that a reduction in the vote 'was being urged.' If it was it \vas from aquar'.er which was, not entitled to a great deal of respect. Education and the provision ior'education was, and must be kept free of the influence, caprices, and artifices of political party warfare. . „ , ; : .-■ ,'