EDUCATION VOTE

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 71, 24 March 1926, Page 10

EDUCATION VOTE

♦ HOW IT IS SPENT

MINISTER GIVES INTERESTING DETAILS

"GOOD VALUE FOE OUB MONEY."

A Press Association message from Blenheim published last night gave some interesting observations about the Education Vote made by Sir James Parr, Minister of Education, when speaking at a civic reception there, on Monday. In an interview with a "Post" representative to-day, Sir James supplied further particulars in elaboratio/i of the message from Blenheim. The Minister said that the total expenditure was about three and a half : inillions: per annum. About 83 per cent, of the annual vote by Parliament went out in salaries to teachers, inspectors, and officers. Just about 11 per cent, was spent in erecting necessary new schools and additions to schools. A further 4 per cent, went to school committees for sanitation of schools, and to education boards for maintenance of schools and administration expenses. The remainder, viz., 2 per cent., was devoted to absolutely necessary objects such as the Child Welfare branch, which had charge of nearly 2000 orphan, deserted, and delinquent children. "Under the above circumstances," said the Minister, "it seems impossible to make any material reduction in the annual vote, without attacking teachers' salaries or the building vote, and no sensible person would advocate this course. On the other hand, some increase in expenditure is inevitable. Every year there are about 5000 to 6000 additional pupila to be catered for. New Zealand is a young, growing country, and the Government is also bringing school children here as immigrants. Tor instance, this year we have 5700 more children than we had last year to teach. I estimate that consequently 150 additional teachers are necessary, which means an additional expenditure of from £40,000 to £50,000 per annum. Also more classrooms are required, which means a further expenditure of about £30,000" per annum. This increase is unavoidable. "I have watched the expenditure very closely of recent years, and I .-- am convinced that we are getting good value for our money. "The result is to be found in the fact testified to by Sir Ernest Rutherford, also by Mr. Pember Reeves and other shrewd observers, that we have in New Zealand perhaps the most intelligent young democracy in the world. The only weak spot is perhaps that some children who go to the high schools do not stay long enough to get much benefit. This deficiency will be cured by the junior high school, which will take the child from 12 to 15 years of age and'give. it a well-balanced and complete course of junior secondary education, thus freeing the high school proper from the burden of having to digest unprofitable material."