EDUCATIONAL TOPICS

Evening Star, Issue 18335, 24 July 1923, Page 9

EDUCATIONAL TOPICS

All IMPORTANT CONFERENCE.

QUESTION OP SUBSIDIES.

[From Our Parliamentary Reporter.]

WELLINGTON, July 23,

It is understood that an important conference between the Hon. C. J. Parr, Minister of Education, tho departmental officers, and the chairmen and secretaries of education boards will ho held in Wellington after the parliamentary session. That such a conference was contemplated was hinted by Mr Parr some time ago. In addition to numerous questions' of administration, the cpnference will discuss the vexed question' of the methods and limitations which should reasonably be attached to subsidies upon voluntary contributions raised by school committees and others. In the past there has been at least the impression that such moneys, in certain instances, might have been expended in a more useful way. Suggestions have already, been made by some of the boards as to the amount of subsidies, and as to the scale varying in accordance with the strength of the roll of schools. Tho Auckland Board submitted a comprehensive scheme which,, it is understood, tho Minister considered most reasonable. « Another matter that will is the high prices still obtaining for the erection of buildings in certain instances. In some board districts this has given the department' some concern, and the Minister desires to ascertain means of getting Letter value, if possible, for building grants. Tho conference wiR also discuss the grading system. In the past various boards have put varying interpretations on their duties in this connection, as defined by the regulation; and. naturally the Minister desires as much 'uniformity in this connection as possible.