EXPENDITURE ON PRIMARY EDUCATION.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXXXI, Issue 10273, 15 February 1894, Page 6

EXPENDITURE ON PRIMARY EDUCATION.

[Pan Press Association.] AUCKLAND, P«b. 14. At the Board of Education the following resolution That the Board institute a searching inquiry into the system of conducting standard and scholarship examinations,” was passed unanimously, and a committee was appointed to take steps. A communication was received from the North Canterbury Education Board asking for the co-operation of the Auckland -Board with other ftpards : of the 1 colony' for ; tho' purpose df approaching the Government 1 with the view of getting an increased grant for educational purposes. Mr.Udy said that the Board had received a grant of £BOOO last year, while in the previous 1 year the amount had not exceeded £6OOO. He did not think it wise to call upon the' Government for a further grant; it wouldbe killing the goose that laid the golden eggs, and would give the enemies of the' present system of education an opportunity to grumble at the increased expen-' diture, and the cause of education would' probably be damaged. The expenditure at present on education was extremely large in proportion to the population. Hr Muir thought the opponents of the present system were lessening in number every year and at every general election. He believed that at the present time the inhabitants of New Zealand were going beyond their ability, and paying more than they could afford for education. He thought that if the terms of the communication were complied with the cause of education would suffer, and the enemies of the isystem would have a handle to work upon. People wore paying more than they could afford, the Government was doing its utmost to forward secular education, and he thought it would be unwise to address it for an increased grant. Mr Lambie did not agree with Messrs U dy # and Muir. The matter of education was one. of the greatest importance, and whilst the money was carefully expended it was bound to produce a good effect. Mr Trooper said whilst in Wellington during the session he had conversed with Mr Beeves upon the subject, and he satisfied him that the Government was doing all it could in the appropriation of school funds. They had received £BOOO last year, and Mr Beeves had promised that if be continued in office he would endeavour to give them the same vote. He (Mr Cooper) did not think the Government could do more in this matter. He had looked through the Appropriation Act, and he noticed that out of £2,000,213 spent in the colony, no less than £350,000 had been granted to education. Consideration of the question was deferred for a month. •