EDUCATION COSTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20866, 7 May 1931, Page 10

EDUCATION COSTS.

DRASTIC /ECONOMIES. STRINGENCY IN AUCKLAND, 7/ BURDEN OF DENTAL CLINICS, MAINTENANCE FUND DEPLETED, / fi Tho heavy curtailments in the grants! made for expenditure on education were made apparent at the meeting of the Auckland Education Board yesterday, when considerable reductions in the fundi! available, for maintenance and construction were announced. Apart from these declines in tho Education Department's grants, the Division of Dental Hygiene notified the board that, in addition to their present obligations, local communities possessing dental clinics would be required to contribute £3O yearly for tho services of each dental officer or nurse regularly stationed in the district, A statement on the position of the hoard's maintenance fund showed that the amount available for tho balance of the current month was only £423 13s Bd. The amount paid by the department during April was £1595, instead of the previous sum of £2037.' Mr. D. YV. Dunlop, tho secretary to the board, said that, - tarly in the year, the maintenance allowance by the department to the board had been reduced by £4CO a month. More recently the allowance had been reduced by another £SOO a month on tho ground ! of the need for rigid economy. Only Urgent Maintenance,

"The board had called tenders for certain painting works, but I am afraid it will not be able to accept thorn," remarked the chairman, Mr. A. Burns. "The board is Receiving nearly £IOOO a month loss for maintenance purposes than it/ formerly obtained, and it is necessary that school committees should be notified of the position. Until the economic position improves the board will be able to attend only ,to urgent and essential maintenance. We cannot afford to bo as generous as we have been in the past. Jn reply to a question, tho chairman said tho capitation allowance to school committees had not been altered. On his motion it was agreed to explain to the committees the stringency of tho situation in regard to maintenance. 'ln a memorandum the department asked whether, in view of the financial depression and the probability of substantial reductions, for the present year at least, in the sums allocated for school buildings and sites, the board would be willing to pay the full cost of the works in its district. This would bo until the rebuilding moneys were exhausted and the conBent of the Minister of Education would be required in each case. "If the board can see its way to agree to this proposal," the memorandum added, "it will be rendering the department substantial assistance, in what is admittedly a difficult situation." Only jEIOOO In Fund. Mr. Burns informed the meeting that only £IOOO was available in the board's rebuilding fund at present, and payments on a number of works, including the construction of the baths at the Training College, Jiad yet to.be completed. The department still owed the board £3OOO on the loan raised to purchase tho teachers' hostel. /' The depletion of the board's rebuilding fund, it was decided, will be explained to the department. In view of the situation, the board could not consent to requests from the Northcote Junior High School Committee for the replacement ot the existing school buildings by a modern structure and the committee at. Royal Oak for action to relieve overcrowding at the school. The department! also called attention to the amendment in the regulations discontinuing payment of remote allowance to teachers. Teachers are to be notified by the board of, the decision. "in the copy of the circular forwarded by the Division of Dental Hygiene to school dental clinic committees announcing additions to their obligations, it was stated that, as a means of assisting the committees, the Government had decided to empower them to impose a small charge for each child receiving treatment, but no child was to be excluded from the service because of the inability of the parents to pay. It was hoped that, with the return of prosperity to the Dominion .the position could be reviewed. Protest From Fukekohe. Members of the board expressed the fear that the proposal would defeat the objects of tho clinic movement. A protest against tho Government's decisions from the committee at Pukekohe is to be sent to the department and it is also proposed to interview the Minister of Health, the Hon. A. J. Stallwoithy, on the subject during his visit to Auckland on Friday. ..Another communication from the department stated that the Finance Act for 1931 provided only for a special rate of superannuation for persons compulsorily retired with less than 40 years' service, but no new powers for terminating engagements were given. Copies of the rulings concerning those affected l>y the salary reduction of 10 per cent, were also forwarded. The payments involved included fees, salaries, honoraria, allowances to officers remunerated from public moneys and payments to members of Loards and commissions.