KINDERGARTEN SCHOOLS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LV, Issue 16909, 23 July 1918, Page 4

KINDERGARTEN SCHOOLS.

CONTROL BY GOVERNMENT. TOO COSTLY FOR THE PRESENT. The question of the Education Department taking control of education at an earlier ago than that now provided for by law has been under the consideration of the Minister for Education, the Hon. J. A. Hanan. Mr. Hanan stated yesterday that by reason of conditions that had developed during the war and information that was coming under his notice from officers of his Department and through outside sources, it was becoming manifest that the State would require to give more attention and supervision to clfild welfare. He had come to the conclusion that it would be desirable that 'the Department should take over, to some extent, kindergarten classes. On going into the question of expenditure however, he had found that oven if such a plan were confined to 12 or 15 of the larger towns in New Zealand, it would involve the addition of from 100 to 150 rooms to existing schools. If provision were made at nil it would have to be made for all tho children available in the towns concerned. The approximate expenditure would not be less than £50,000, with an additional £5000 at least for furniture and equipment, and with 100 to 150 teachers at a salary of, say, £110 per annum each. The total cost would therefore be not less than approximately £65,000 for the first year, not including the existing free kindergartens, if they were taken over. Having regard to the many other demands for increased education expenditure, and taking into consideration further pressing needs, he did not think Cabinet would approve of action being taken in the matter at present.