The Feilding Star, Oroua and Kiwitea Comities Gazette MONDAY, MAY 20, 1907. Give it a Name.

Feilding Star, Volume I, Issue 270, 20 May 1907, Page 2

The Feilding Star, Oroua and Kiwitea Comities Gazette MONDAY, MAY 20, 1907. Give it a Name.

We have referred on several occasions in fairly strong terms to the manner in which the Education Department acts towards the Boards, and we have a typical instance before us now which illustrates the system to a nicety. Some time ago strong representations were made to the Department for an enlargement to the Terrace End School, the infant-room of which, built to accommodate forty, had over a hundred children cooped up in it. Time and again representations were made without effect, until at last the Secretary for Education was persuaded to visit the school himself, and he was so impressed with the scandalous state of affairs that he sanctioned the expenditure of the amount asked for. But when this was communicated to the Board, it was found that there had been such a large increase in the attendance that much more accommodation was required, so it was decided to build two rooms separate from the school as an infant department. The Department informally sanctioned this, and as the matter was one of urgency the Board went on with the work and had the building constructed at a cost of £668. A year ago the building was opened, and ever since the Board has been waiting for the Government grant to recoup them for the expenditure. At the last meeting of the Board a letter was read from the Department as follows : "The Minister has considered your letter of 15th April, respecting the building of a separate school at Terrace End. You will remember that in June, 1905, I wrote that 'before going to any expense in the matter it is desirable'for the Board to give some reason for the proposed change [that is for a separate building] together with an estimate of cost, as, of course, the Government will not be responsible for any expenditure in excess of the amount authorised.' The sum authorised was £289, and, in view of the warning quoted, the Minister holds that the Government has no liability beyond that sum. Nevertheless, as the Government later agreed to consider favorably an application for a separate school to accommodate 60, the Minister has taken that fact into consideration, and will increase the grant from £285 to £400." Now, the Department knows that it is illegal to spend money from the maintenance account for new buildings or additions, it recognised the importance of the work through the secretary and the Minister, and yet it has actually quibbled as to whether it should pay £400 or £600 for the work out of the vote passed in Parliament for such purposes. If a private business man acted this way in connection with a necessary work carried out by his employees at a branch business, his conduct would be referred to in unequivocal terms, but a Government, which should set the standard of honest conduct and honorable treatment ,seems to be exempt from that category. ,