EDUCATION EXPENDITURE.

Evening Star, Issue 18057, 26 August 1922, Page 2

EDUCATION EXPENDITURE.

ECONOMY PRACTICALLY IMPOSSIBLE. [FbOM OUB PaBUAMEMUR? Hr.I’OUTEB.I WELLINGTON, August 23. “It, has been suggested that expenditure could be cut down in the education vote, but can anyone indicate clearly where I can save?” asked the Minister of Education in explaining to tho House how difficult it was to keep down expenditure on education. He could not to-day see where any great economy was possible,, though saving to the extent of £160,000, mostly •as a result of the cut in teachers’ salaries, had been effected latt year, Ihe House would understand how difficult his task was when ho explained how expenditure increased every year. There has been an increase of 74,000 pupils in the dominion schools’ roll this year, and this meant roughly an additional expenditure of £BO,OOO per year in new buildings and salaries. His saving of £160,000 would thus be materially affected. The total sum paid in salaries was £2,260,000, tho proportion of salaries in total education vole being £9 out of £ll Ss. It was obvious, therefore, that any large retrenchment could only bo made at the expense of the teachers.