UNDER THE AXE

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIII, Issue 249, 18 September 1933, Page 8

UNDER THE AXE

EDUCATION AND ECONOMIES. SURVEY BY MR MASTERS. Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, Sept. 18. In a statement to-day, Hon. R. Masters, Minister of Education, said that as a result of the depressed budgetary positions the expenditure on education has been reduced in almost every country in the world, in some cases quite moderately, while in others one might almost say ruthlessly. “From the information 1 was enabled to gather, I would say that the United States as a whole has caused greater economies to be brought into effect than any other country'. Legislatures generous to a degree in times of prosperity have found how impossible it is to continue a lavish expenditure in times of depression, and in America we have the spectacle of a country moving from one extreme to another with a Federal surplus of 183,000,000 dollars in 1930 converted into a cumulative deficit of 5,547,078,000 dollars by 1933, and with a drop in income tax from 2,410,980,000 dollars in 1930 to 746,000,000 dollars in 1933, and a reduction in customs from 587,000,000 dollars to 251,000,000 dollars during the same period, together with a huge army of 13.000,000 unemployed. “It will be realised,” said Mr Masters, “that social services had to come under the axe of economy in America. Appropriations have been reduced to such an extent that the situation in some schools is really critical, much more critical than is commonly realised. In the New York State alone, no fewer than 7000 teachers are unemployed, while those who are fortunate enough to be employed have suffered heavy reductions in salary, amounting to more than 50 per cent, in many instances. In secondary schools in the State of Illinois there are thousands of teachers who have not been paid at all for their services and others again who have received only part payment. This is a most unfortunate position in regard to unemployment and is due to the depression. 30 per cent, of the teachers being dismissed in some of the States, and to the fact that, as in New Zealand and other countries, too many teachers have been trained. While we in New Zealand have been instrumental in reducing the cost of the administration of education and our system still remains intact, in many'school systems in the United States all special classes have been eliminated and on the decision of the Office of Education all work has ceased i.n music, kindergartens, art work, dental work, medical inspection, manual training and elementary home economics.

“Conditions in many school areas became so serious during last year that it was necessary to curtail the school year in many country districts by as much as four months. Over a quarter of a million children are attending school on a part time basis. This restriction seems to apply more to the schools in the country, as approximately 8000 rural schools were forced to close early last year. The cities, however, are not immune, as over 100 eitv systems reduced their terms by 20 days or more. POSITION IN DOMINION.

“In a recent statement, the Commission of Education said that in this phase of economy the prospects were very much more serious for next year. In the matter of capital expenditure and attention to repairs and maintenance the system lias suffered and, not only have the teachers been starved for equipment, but in some 18,000 rural schools even minor repairs have not been attended to over a lengthy period. In making these statements I have not in any wav exaggerated the position, lii fact. I could go on at a greater length, my information being gathered from official sources and published statements. It may be asked, why raise the matter? I do so because there are certain sections of our community which freely express the opinion that New Zealand has gone too far in the matter of economies. It may be informative to them to know that we have left our system intact, that the children, who, after all, are the paramount consideration, have not been prejudicially affected and that our economies are almost wholly the result of the reduction of administration expenses. On the other hand, it must be obvious from a study of the information I have given that, in addition to the savings on administration, economies have been secured in the United States at the expense of the system, the child naturally in that case being the sufferer. Educationists iu the United States are generally concerned and are hopeful that before long prosperity- will return and assist them to restore the services which have been eliminated. The State, after all, is in exactly the same position as the individual. Spend in excess of your income and it is only a matter of tune when nothing will remain to be the Minister concluded.