SCHOOL EXPENDITURE IN OTAGO FOR LAST YEAR.

Evening Star, Issue 7326, 26 September 1887, Page 1

SCHOOL EXPENDITURE IN OTAGO FOR LAST YEAR.

TO THE EDITOR. Sib, —Educational reform is now the question of the day. In almost every corner of tee Colony the cry is being raised against the extravagance of the present system which falls with ruinous weight on the overburdened taxpayer. It is plain the country cannot stand it. The burden is altogether out of proportion to our means, and retrenchment, stern and unbending, is now forced upon us. Considering the work to be done, the shortness of each working day, the exemption from work on two days each week, and the number of holidays in the year, surely, considering these circumstances and the circumstances of the Colony, the schoolmasters' salaries aie on a somewhat extravagant scale. Secretary education, LSOO per annum; secretary and treasurer, L 25 0; clerk, L 175; do, LBS; departmental contingencies, L 605 17s 3d; inspector of schools, L 55 0; do, L 450; do, 1450; travelling expenses of inspectors, JLd3l 10s 3d; examination of pupil teachers, L 25 12s lOd; Fort Chalmers—headmaster L 413, house allowance L 5 5; Northcast Valley—master L 332, house L 6 5; George street —master L4ll, house LSO; Union street —master L 397, house L6O; Albany street—master L4Ol, house LSO; Noimal School— Mr White L 483 ; Arthur street master L 413, house LOO; High street master L 379, house L6O; bonuses, 16,2618s 6d; other allowances, L 129 2; 6d. Total, L 63.445 7s 9d. School build:ngs, L 18.176 3s lid ; expenditure for the year, L 186.135 2s Id. Sir John Hall in his recent speech to his constituents stated that no country of the same population was sending away LIO,OOO every working day for interest. It was more than we could afford. Still the Premier talks about borrowing another L 2,000,000, which means an annual additional LBO.OGO interest. The present Government intend increasing taxation and all necessaries of life, A new Government intend economy and reduced expenditure in all Government departments.—l am, etc., Economy. Dunedin, September 24.