A DEFEAT ON EDUCATION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20779, 23 January 1931, Page 10

A DEFEAT ON EDUCATION.

The defeat of the Government on the Education Bill, designed to raise the school leaving age in England and Wales—Scotland and Northern Ireland being specifically exempted from its operation—leaves a curious position. The Government was defeated on a direct vote; there is no escaping that fact. Yet the bill passed itfe third reading, but its operation is to be suspended until an arrangement has been made to meet the financial position of the non-provided, that is the denominational, schools. As the measure was to have come into force on April 1 next, and all the preparations for it were shaped with that date in view, it is left entirely in the air—and so are the schools. This is the third time the Government has endeavoured to give effect to its election promise that, the school ago would be raised, principally for the relief of the labour market, it was then suggested. The first bill introduced in December, 1920, was speedily withdrawn, to give place to-a more comprehensive measure. The second, which appeared in May last year, included a concordat, or agreement, for giving financial assistance to non-provided schools in respect of the increased staffing and accommodation necessary because children were to remain a year longer. The chief point was that teachers were to be the servants of the education boards, not the school managers, who were, however, to be consulted regarding the religious acceptability of those appointed. This agreement failed to satisfy the Parliamentary spokesmen of the

denominational schools. It was dropped largely because of this, and because Labour members objected to the means test required as a condition of maintenance grants for pupils over 14 years of age. The present bill substituted a fixed scale of income as a qualification for maintenance, abolishing the individual means test. No financial provision was made for denominational schools, the understanding being that Sir Charles Trevelyan would endeavour to make a national agreement covering their position. Mr. J. Scurr, who has led the present attack on the measure, said in November last that he felt he was taking a grave risk on behalf of the Roman Catholic community by voting for the second reading. Apparently those whose views he represented and a section of the Anglican community have hardened in their attitude to the measure. As a result, the Government finds its hope of carrying out its election promise deferred indefinitely, though it came nearer to fulfilment than before. It is a grave setback, indeed a definite defeat, on an important policy point.