REDUCED GRANTS

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 121, 18 November 1931, Page 11

REDUCED GRANTS

EDUCATION EXPENSES

WELLINGTON BOARD'S POSITION

The i eduction in the per capita pay juent to education boards for adminis* trative purposes from 3s 6d to 2s 6d was discussed by the Wellington Education Board to-day, and concern was expressed at the seriousness at the position. "- ■ • "

The chairman (Mr. T; Forsyth) said that the eu"qct of the amendment to tha Act Would be to reduce the board'• revenue by approximately £'1325. That was a serious matter, in view of other reductions which fta"d' taken place, particularly in regard to reductions in. rent from the board's sites and the inability of lessees-to meet their obligations, the reduction in the transfer from the manual instruction account owing to a heavy leduction in tho giants for manual'purposes, and-the reduction in other transfers for similar reasons. - ...

"In addition to the, reductions, tha board is-likely'to be involved in a con* siderablo amount of extra cost on ac« count of the laising of the postage rates," Mr. Foisyth continued. "When, tho^ Education Department's" recommendations were placed _-before the Prime. Minister, I cannot believe that the latter -was acquainted, with, all o$ these factors, and it is 'a pity, therefore, that tho Departments- proposal* were not in the first instance submitted to the education boards for their comment, thus enabling them to place beforo the Prune Minister estimates"of income and expenditure for'the -ensuing year. Had this been done, I firmly; believe the Prime Minister would, havo been prepaied to restrict the reductioa in the per -capital grant to 6d. ~As it is, it appears that this board, *by tha exercise of the strictest economy, cannot help but make a loss in" the vicinity, of £300 during the coming "year, notwithstanding the fact that • Barvimg* amounting to no'less than £1200 a year arc already being effected.1 The small credit balanco which it has at present is likely soon to be exhausted, and. it will then be necessary fot the Government to reconsider the whole | matter. In dealing with ting question I may mention for tho information of the board that tho basis of payment i» not altogether an equitablo one. The Auckland Education Board -hag' many, vacant sites in aieas where land values are very high, and which bring in considerable rentals. I believe that.no other education district in New Zealand is similarly,-situated, so that •in-thi» respect the Auckland boaid holds-a distinct advantage in 'regard -to general administrative funds which receive' the benefit of the rentals. " It is too late to do ..anything with ' tho * matter' "this year, in view of,the fact that the legislation has been passed; .but 1 certainly, consider that the matter "sfiould be brought under tho Government's notica during or prior to -next *ession k "-- The Director of Education wrote suggesting the advisability" of. effecting economies in educational adnunisfration, and giving- a/list of twenty-three officers whoso serviced would not' ba available to the Department next year. It was pointed out that the cost oi tha board's architect's branch might be- reduced, as during the financial- depression the amount of building "work that could be authorised .would be considerably curtailed. Mr. Forsyth said that the board had already agreed to the suggestion that arrangements should bo, madb for the architectural and building staff ip undertake high school and technical school work, including. maintenance? 'jfn.d new. 1 work, provided that, there' was not sufficient primaly school woik to keep the officei s fully employed. Mr. C. H. Nicholls said that bchool committees were greatly"coneexaed with the possibility of the capitation grants being reduced. . ■ ■ The secretary (Mr. E. S. Hylton) replied that there was nothing in the recent legislation affecting grants <to school committees in any way, Tha only grants ,affeet9d were those with which the",education boards had -to meet general administrative expenS.es, .