EDUCATION BOARDS

Evening Star, Issue 19638, 18 August 1927, Page 15

EDUCATION BOARDS

DOUBTFUL SAVING BY ABOLITION [FkOU Ouil rABLIAMUNTAIir ItlsrOKlli U.] WELLINGTON, August 17. As an ex-chairman of tho Wellington Education Board, Mr Forsyth (Wellington East) had something to say tonight upon the rumored abolition ol education boards. Ho criticised a lieform colleague’s suggestion that the move would save Iron) £59,01)0 to £IOO,OOO, pointing out that tho whole administrative expenses of the nine education boards were £42,182. ft was surprising that the member for Palmerston North should stand up and make such an exaggerated statement. Hho had included tho expenses of technical hoards, secondary school boards oi governors, the figures would only rise to £55,000, and adding _universities made a gross total of £71,449. By contrast it was interesting to note that last year the administrative cost of the Education Department itself had gone up £34,552, and, while this department showed an increased cost in thirty years equal to 140.9 per cent., that of education boards had increased only 43 per cent. Before education hoards were abolished the Minister should make a clear statement. (Hear, hear.) Air Rhodes: Give school committees wider powers. Mr Forsyth: A delightfully vague statement, and tho Minister is silent on tho point.