CONSOLIDATED SCHOOLS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18520, 3 October 1923, Page 10

CONSOLIDATED SCHOOLS.

MINISTER FAVOURS SYSTEM.

STATE MOTOR J SERVICE POSSIBLE. [BT TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT. ,;...■'-.,' WELLINGTON; Tuesday. ? / A hint that the 'State might have to embark in the motor . transport business in a small way in order to get ' children in rural districts to school was given by l the Minister for Education, the Hon. 0. ! J. .Parr, at the conference of school inspectors this evening.' . ,!■■ -The Minister said he earnestly wished to improve rural "school organisation. : It was, of course, impossible to bring all the advantages of higher education which could bo got -in a large city; into every backblock village. *' The placing of a group Of rural • schools ; under a supervising organising teacher might be tried, or as an alternative the placing of a group of schools under the control of a head teacher at a central or consolidated 'school. - e < - ■■ ' - \ :.,;.■;::'

"I am satisfied," said the Minister, "that the consolidated school will probably prove the best and most economical method of dealing with the rural education problem, although we have to recognise that consolidation in some cases would be more expensive arid might result in very little increase;in efficiency. .What I desire is to be able to bring the children of -a' remote ?: district to & /;; central school. . I may" ask the country to close down certain schools in order to do this.

"One district offers "excellent opportunities, and extra building expense will not be involved; If we did not, consolidate in this case we > would have to erect two new schools. We will be able.l to bring in 70 or 80 children. - Therefore, ; I am encouraged to persevere with the 'consolidated idea. " . '~ * ; " •-■'■

"Some expense may be involved, because we will have to have motor transport. It ":'. is ; : difficult at times "to get a good ;• contract for . motor -carriage.' ". The alternative is for the department to own three or four motor-cars, operating them themselves. I am not , keen about that. I would prefer to leave it to private enterprise. It 'may; mean a sliahtlv increased expense, but something will have to vbe done." ' ■ \ , '