THE GIRLS' HIGH SCHOOL GRANT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9021, 6 April 1888, Page 6

THE GIRLS' HIGH SCHOOL GRANT.

CONFERENCE OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION WITH THE HON. MR. FISHER. During the course of the ordinary meeting of the Board of Education yesterday, the chairman (Mr. Upton) intimated that the Hon. Mr. Fisher, Minister of Education, was present in the secretary's room, and was willing to meet the Board in reference to educational matters. On the motion of Mr. Upton, the consideration of the remainder of the ordinary business was deferred for half an hour, in order that a conference might be held with Mr. Fisher, who was then introduced, and took a seat at the Board. The Chairman, addressing Mr. Fisher, said the Board were of opinion that something ishould be done to secure the maintenance of the Girts' High SchooL The Government had withdrawn the grant, and as the school had no endowment, the Board could not see how they were to carry it on. They should therefore be glad to receive a promise from Mr. Fisher that the Government would vote a sum on behalf of that institution. Mr. F.tsnEE said he saw that he had, as it were, dropped into the lion's morth. (Laughter.) lie had come to the offices to see his friend Mr. Goldie, and did not presume that he would be called on to discuss an important matter of this kind. In the last session of the House he had brought forward a Bill providing for funds Deing raised for the support of the Girls' High School, and this bull was actively supported by the Auckland members. The measure, however, was lost because of an objection being raised as to the purpose for which the Auckland school endowment had been granted. It was very clear that the endowment hud been set apart for the benefit of secondary education, and the bill was based upon that understanding, a power of mortgage to be placed over the endowment for the maintenance of the school. The objection to which he had referred was raised by Mr. Turnbull, the member for Timaru, who pointed out that by an accident the purpose of the endowment was changed, the words " for primary education purposes " having been introduced at the end of the-schedule, though nobody knew how they had come to be there. At that stage of the Bill the objection proved fatal; and probably were the Bill introduced next session the same objection would again be raised. The Legislature—at least the half of it of which he was a member—had expressed itself ae opposed to increasing the estimates for higher education ; and the point which the Board would have to consider was that, if their request was acceded to, and a sum was placed on the Estimates for the maintenance of the Girls' High School, votes for other high echools throughout the 'Colony would have to follow. He thought the Board'e better etep would be to gefc the Auckland members to change the purposes of the reserve in the proclamation, though in doing that the BoarS would have to be prepared to meet a great outcry. All the correspondence on the subject showed that the endowment wae set apart for the benefit of the Girla' High School, and it was a wonder that any doubt should exist upon the matter. The error should be rectified; for Its was a pity that; the Board, having a site, and having to provide means of education for a large number of girls, could not do so because of an error of this character.

The Chairman pointed out that every city in New Zealand except Auckland was benefited by endowments for secondary education.

Mr. Fisher said he was convinced that it was not creditable that) one part of the colony should be placed in affluent circumstances whilst another part was hampered for .rant of means. (Hear, hear.) He would consult'the Attorney-General in respect to the position of the endowment; and if the Auckland members would hold a meeting in Wellington in reference to the subject before the assembling of Parliament, he would be armed with the opinion of the Attorney-General, and would nave the Bill ready to Jay before the House.

In reply to Mr. Cooper, the Minister for Education said he would assist the passage of a measure (if such were necessary) empowering the Girls' High School to share in tb« Grammar School endowment. - -

The question of the settlement of liabilities in connection with the Girls' High School, amounting to £675, incurred before notice was given by the Government of the withdrawal of the grant, was brought before Mr. Fisher, who said he would introduce it to the notice of the Government.