HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Evening Post, Volume CXVIII, Issue 98, 23 October 1934, Page 9

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

The House of Representatives met at 2.30 p.m. today,

The AVellington Bishop Endowment (Church of England) Amendment Bill was read a third time and passed. The McLean Institute Bill was also read a third time and passed.

Mr. R. A. AVright (Independent, AVellington Suburbs) asked the Minister of Employment whether it was his intention to take steps to terminate tho deadlock between tho Unemployment Board and the V.M.C.A. in reference to tho Penrose Camp for boys? A\ ras tho Minister aware that the difficulty had arisen because tho board insisted that tho cost of the camp was excessive? AVould ho investigate tho matter with a view to an early settlement, otherwise the camp would not be reopened? Mr. AVright said that the Penrose Camp had done excellent work in preparing boys for useful farm work, and many lads trained thero were now in jobs on farms. Replying, the Hon. J. A. Young stated that the board was not aware of any deadlock, and that no difficulty existed as far as the board knew. Mr. Young stated that the board had recently made a substantial contribution to the camp. DOWN-GRADING OF SCHOOLS. j Mr. A. S. Richards (Labour. Roskill) asked the Minister of Education who-1 ther he had noticed an article in "Thc| Post" of October 17 in which the New Zealand Educational Institute was reported to bo alarmed at the down-grad-ing of public schools in New Zealand. The report stated, inter alia, that the' position was so serious as to warrant immediate action on the pare of the authorities. Would the Minister have the matter investigated at once, find would he give the House an assurance I that nothing detrimental to scholars and teachers would bo allowed to develop? Mr. Richards said that it was alleged that some two hundred schools would be down-graded from February 1 next, causing disorganisation, seriously affecting pupils, causiug hardship to teachers, and dismissal in many cases, and further reductions in salaries and grading.

"There are several factors affecting the attendance at the schools, but it is considered there is no need for;further special investigation to be made because the whole matter is being watched very closely by tho Minister and tho Department," stated the Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon. G. W. Forbes) in reply. "Schools are regraded annually in accordance with the regulations, and every year some are reduced in grade, and others raised in grade. The attendances supplied hy tho education boards indicate that the number of schools to be reduced is about equal to the number to be raised. The fall in attendance at schools must result in the transfer of teachers from certain schools, and these will bo transferred to positions Tendered vacant by the ordinary wastage of tho service which is considerable as the result of death, marriage, and retirement. As from February 1 all. schools will, as usual, be fully staffed in accordance with tho regulations that have been in operation for some years. In addition, there will be a continuance of the rationing scheme which will provide teachers in excess of the staffing schedule. The interests of tho pupils will not bo adversely affected, but some teachers will havo to be transferred, and some may be temporarily out of a permanent position. Under certain conditions teachers may continue to draw over-scale salary for one year, and teachers who arc compulsorily transferred to other positions havo their removal expenses paid by the Department. The figures available indicate that considerably less than 200 schools will be down-graded."