CONTROL OF EDUCATION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19717, 17 August 1927, Page 12

CONTROL OF EDUCATION.

CLIPPING BOARDS' POWER

FARMERS RAISE A PROTEST. "Education boards are free from pohti cal control, but if the proposed system of' centralisation is given effect, and nearly all business is transacted by the department in Wellington, politics will be uppermost," declared Mr. A. N. Macky at the meeting of the Auckland executive of the New Zealand Farmers' Union last evening Mr. Macky moved that the meeting protest against the proposal to curtail the powers of education boards and any proposal of centralisation of control, for, he said, back-block schools would suffer thereby. "No doubt an attempt is being madtto clip the powers of boards in the direction' of having building and maintenance governed by the depaitment in Welling ton," Mr, Macky continued. "It is an likely it will be more economical, and the department in Wellington is slow and causes friction in its operations The boards serve as a useful go-between."

The motion was seconded by Mr. W Lee-Martin and supported by the chair man, Mr. A. A Ross. A desire for more information of what was proposed was expressed by Mr. R. D. Duxfield, who warned tho meeting that, there was much unnecessary expense in a: multiplicity of local and Government bodies.

Captain H. M. Rushworth: Even bureaucratic departments become "sod bound." A Member: Hide-bound?

Captain Rushworth: No, "sod-bound." "OT the earth, earthy," suggested an other member. Captain Rushworth characterised centralisation as a retrograde step tending to make the department moribund. Several members agreed that centralisa fion was the "thin edge of the wedge" for the abolition of the boards, which, it Appeared, would be left fnnctionless. The motion was carried.