EDUCATION VOTE

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXV, Issue 258, 29 September 1945, Page 3

EDUCATION VOTE

SMALLER CLASSES URGED. TEACHERS STILL OVERSEAS. (Press Assn.) WELLINGTON. Sept. 28 Speaking to the vote of £6,285,882 for the education Department in the House of Representatives this afternoon, Mr M. H. Oram (Nat., Matiawatu) said it was strange that, if the Government strongly favoured a reduction in the size of classes, it had not done more about the matter. Despite war handicaps, the Government had done less-than it could have to redeem its promises in this direction. „ Mr Oram asked the Minister f«8 consider the opening of a fifth training coi'lege, preferably in conjunction with one of the agricultural colleges. Mr T. H. McCombs (Lab.. Lyttelton): At Lincoln ? Mr Oram: I think it is coming to Massey College., but I am not parochial about it.

Mr Oram said rural education was of such importance to New Zealand that the provision of a, training college associated with an agricultural college was fully warranted. He also advocated increasing the number of agricultural high schools to three in the North Island and two in the South Island. Mr F Langstone (Lab., Waimarino) criticised the "mean, miserable and parsimonious" policy of the department and education boards towards country schools. The King's English, he said did not describe the miseraok>ness with which the country scnoo s were treated. Their capitation did not even provide for the efficient cleaning of school buildings. Mr Langstone said that if he had his way he would abolish the education boards altogether. They were the faith wheel in the coach. ' The Minister of Education (Mr Mason) said there had been excellent progress concerning the transport of country children, while the country schools were given priority as tar as possible in the provision and care or buildings. Building materials had been unprocurable lor nearly two years during the war. Mr Langstone: There have been enough luxury buildings for a dozen schools of the kind we want. Mr Mason said the problem ol school accommodation and the achievement, ot smaller classes had been accentuated by the increase in the birthrate. Mr Sullivan (Nat., Bay ot Plenty) : Particularly in the country districts. , , . _ Mr Mason recalled that this Government had reopened the training colleges which had been closed, and had trained additional teachers. However, there were between 800 and 900 teachers in the Services, and not until they were returned to the profession could smaller classes'be achieved. TECHNICAL FORESTRY SCHOOL. Mr H E. Combs (Lab.. Wellington Suburbsi considered it high time that a technical forestry school was established to combat erosion and give instruction in silviculture. He also lelt that in the department's building programme" reasonable provision should be made fot residence.-, for headmasters and their families. Mr 11. M. Algie (Nat., Remuera) asked the Minister if he would give serious consideration to the question of absenteeism in schools. There were 70,000 on the rolls in Auckland ana possibly as many as 10,000 would be absent' in a single day. He wondered if the Minister could do anything to dissuade teachers who sought Promotion by transfer, and suggested that all teachers be graded and paid accordingly so that they could stay in the 'same position. It was a big problem and one which would take years to overcome. . „ The member of the Executive Council representing the Native Race (Mr Tirikatene) suggested that the time was opportune to establish a Maori and Polynesian' University College lhero •were only a few Maoris alive today who could do justice to such a position and he referred to the capabilities of Sir •\pirana Ngata and Dr. Peter Buck. Mr A. J. Murdoch /Nat., Marsden) asked for the Minister's assurance that he would agree to a reduction in classes to enable teachers to give ol their best. The Leader of the Opposition (Mi Holland) said ho had received comI plaints from school cleaners that they I wen. ineligible for the increased r-*jfl of payment of 3£d an hour. They had

been reclassified as cleaners and not caretakers. He asked that the injustice be removed. Mr Mason promised to take up with the department the various points raised by members. The vote was passed. The House rose at 5.30 p.m. until 2.30 on Wednesday.