FREE KINDERGARTENs

Evening Post, Volume c, Issue 54, 5 March 1934, Page 13

FREE KINDERGARTENs

SUBSTANTIAL HELP

ART UNION FUNDS

Considerable satisfaction is felt by officials of the Auckland Free Kindergarten Association at tho announcement by the Hon. J. A. Young, Minister of Internal Affairs, that £5000 is to bo made available to kindergarten organisations throughout New Zealand, through- the Free Kindergarten Union of New Zealand, from the profits from the Golden Chance art union, states the "New Zealand Herald." "The allocation to Auckland should be considerably in excess of £1000," an official of the association stated. '' We have not yet received any official notification regarding the amount, but there is no doubt that it will serve to an extent the need left when the Government discontinued its grant to organisations such as ours at the end of 1931. The allocation to the various associations will be based upon the attendances throughout the Dominion. "The Auckland body received £1317 out of £5000 from an art union last year, and there is a possibility that the sum allowed from this art union will be much the same, although .all depends upon the attendances at the various kindergartens throughout the Dominion. At all events, we are very grateful for the benefit provided, for great difficulties have been experienced •for several years in "conducting activities at the institutions in .an efficient manner." The Government announced at the end of 1931 that all capitation grants and subsidies for free kindergartens throughout the Dominion were to cease. For the previous year the grant to the kindergartens in Auckland amounted to £1300, eight kindergartens being affected. The association had been supported by a capitation grant limited to £4 for each. child, and based on average attendance. The decision of the Government affected 32 schools throughout .New Zealand, with an aggregate' roll ■number of between 1700 and 1800, and entailed a direct saving to the State of more than £5000 a year. During-1930----31 the Government paid £5243 in capitation and £1747 in building subsidies. The restoration of at least a portion of tho ordinary grant was subsequently asked of the Government by interested authorities, Parliament being petitioned unsuccessfully by the Free Kindergarten Union of New Zealand. As late as November, 1932, the Education Committee referred numbers of requests for the continuation of the subsidy to freo kindergartens to the Government for favourable consideration when the finances of the country permitted.