ECONOMY IN EDUCATION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21136, 19 March 1932, Page 12

ECONOMY IN EDUCATION.

ABOLITION OF THE BOARDS. OPPOSITION IN CANTERBURY. [BY telegraph.— toess association.] CHRISTCHURCH. Friday. "The conclusion of the Economy Commission lias so obviously been arrived at in ignorance of the actual functions of education boards, and with so meagre an investigation into the relative costs of administration that the board most strenuously opposes the suggestion that the control of education be placed under a cential council which could have no real knowledge of local requirements or conditions." The foregoing was one of the chief comments made by the Canterbury Education Board at its meeting to-day on the education aspects of the Economy Commission's report. The board agreed to some of the commission's' most important recommendations, such as the closing of training colleges and a reduction of women teachers' salaries to a ratio of four-fifths of those of men, but objected to such other proposals as a further reduction of school committees' allowances and changes in the system of agricultural instruction. It was stated by more than one member that the section of the report dealing with economies in education had been inspired by the Education Department and adopted by the commission without proper examination. The board also approved of the raising of the minimum age and proposals for economy in post-primary education. POSITION AT DARGAVILLE. FEARS FOR HIGH SCHOOL. [By TELEGRAM. —OWN CORRESI'ONDENT.] DAIIGAVILLE, Friday. At a meeting of the Dargaville District High School Committee consternation was expressed as to what would happen to tho secondary department of the school if tho Economy Commission's suggestions were carried out, more particularly as to the carriage of pupils (o the school and the payment of boarding allowance. It was pointed out that if the recommendation in this connection were given effect to nearly half the pupils now attending the school would be unable to attend in future. The school would lose its grade and lose half its teachers in the secondary department. Many of the children come by bus several miles each fnorning and others from remote distances board in the town, receiving a board allowance of 50 shillings a quarter.