STATE DUTY

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 21852, 24 October 1945, Page 6

STATE DUTY

PROVIDING HOUSES , ' TEACHERS’ NEEDS ‘lt is clearly the duty of the Government to provide houses for our teachers,” said the chairman, -Mr. G. A. Maddison, at Friday’s meeting of the Hawke's Bay Education/ Board in Napier, when pointing out that it was not the policy of the department _to provide, in urban areas, accommodation for members of the teaching profession •who were obliged to pay exorbitant rates for boarding or as rent. In a recent interview with the Minister of Education with the N.Z.E.I. and published in “National Education” on the provision of residences for teachers, it was stated that the building of them rested with the Education Boards. Mr. Maddison said that this was taken up direct with the Minister as it was felt that some misunderstanding had arisen and that the position in respect of residences should be clarified by an official statement from him. In Wairoa, he said, teachers were compelled to pay up to £2 10s a week for board, which was not commensurate with the salary they were receiving. While the Government would consider applications for the acquiring, or erection, of buildings in rural areas, it would not do so in urban areas.

It was pointed out that the Wanganui board had acquired two buildings from the department and was already dissatisfied with them. £4 Per Week Rental

Mr. Maddison explained that a fiveroomed house cost £2OOO without the land, and at 10 per cent, which was the basis of assessment of rent, teachers would object to paying the board £4 a week rent. The board was not a taxing authority and could not recoup itself as local bodies could. “I would suggest that the Teachers’ Institute take the matter up as they might get something that the board can’t get,” suggested Mr. A. H. Sivewright. “I would like this matter struck off our order paper until we get the policy of the Government. At present we are only wasting time.” Mr. Maddison said that such a course could not be adopted as suggested by Mr. Sivewright as some success was being met with in houses for rural areas. He added that statements made by the board were being taken notice of by the department. The Minister’s explanation was received and inquiries are to be made regarding buildings acquired by the Auckland Education Board.