EDUCATION.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 28 August 1924, Page 10

EDUCATION.

COST TO THE COUNTRY

INQUIRIES BY MR, HOLLAND

(U V TELEGRAPH PRESS ASSOCIATION.) WELLINGTON, Aug. 27. A discussion on education 'matters • took place in the House this afternoon, when the Minister for Bduca- • tion (Hon. C. J. Parr) asked leave to lay on the table the annual report of • the Education Department. The Leader of the Labour Party (Mr. H. El. Holland) desired to know what position had been reached in connection with the dispute between the head teachers and the Minister and the department. He was not aware that any finality had been reached. He also wanted to know whether the Minister was prepared to change the basis of the payment of teachers from one of attendance to that of efficiency. At present small schools were evidently not entitled to have teachers of equal capacity to those employed in larger schools. He also urged that all books’ and material should be supplied free of charge so as to make the system of education free in reality as well as in name. It was a shame that much of the school equipment should have to be paid for out of the pockets of teachers, and tie saw no reason why female teachers 'should receive lower salaries than male teachers. Equal work demanded equal pay. The Hon. G. J. Anderson said sufficient attention was not paid in schools to the science underlying the ordinary piimary or secondary industries. The bias at present was towards commercial activities and professions. A good tradesman was just as advantageous as a good lawyer, and there were already more lawyers and doctors in the Dominion than could be placed. Mr. J. A. Lee (Auckland East) hoped junior high schools were not sinfply a means of heading off children of working class parents who desired, if possible, to enjoy a university education. He advocated four separate universities. Mr. T. K. Sidey (Dunedin South) urged the- use of the accrediting system in schools instead of the large number of examinations which were now held. The Minister, in reply, said New Zealand was now spending about £3,500,000 annually on education, which was more than was being, spent by any other country in the Empire. His duties were not always easy. The machinery often needed oiling to make things run smoothly, but he was happy to say that to-day there was no tricLiou between h;is departmnt and the teachers. The matters in dispute had been threshed out at a. recent conference with mhst satisfactory results —so satisfactory, indeed, that he proposed to hold a similar conference this year. There had been complaints of too much centralisation of education added the Minister, but when he asked for specific instances they had not been forthcoming by the complainants. Ilis i elations with school committees | were most happy. He would like to [ give them more money, but he could j 011 *y d° bis best with the limited means at his disposal. Replying to Mr. Holland, lie said the dispute with the head teachers had been settled on an amicable basis the head teachers having agreed that they should give some of their time to actual teaching. He regretted the existence of large classes, but they were not peculiar to New Zealand and steps were being taken to remedy the evil as rapidly as possible bv getting more teachers and more accommodation. Concerning the univorsify, there would be legislation this year, probably in the direction of democratising Hie institutions. PersonaHy, he favoured the establishment of ion,- separate universities, but he could not take such serious •steps without the very best advice He was at present obtaining opinions Horn the various centres, and if three out of lour favoured separation then the matter would have arrived at such a position as would warrant him •n'nbm.;! 11 ” Gilblnet to a 'PPoint some authoiity on university management to make a report on the position in New Zealand. Whatever his own wew might be he would do nothing m a hurry. He defended junior, high schools as being necessary to the logical conclusion of our system. There was legislation ill a Bill he was bringing down sr’r°o ld | ln " °'i fcil f amalgamation of ■ ccondary and technical schools He epuld not at that time go fully into tne question of the payment of female wlm 161 00,1 m ° nly say that no-