TOO MANY INSPECTORS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21520, 17 June 1933, Page 13

TOO MANY INSPECTORS

HAWKE'S BAY OPINION DEPARTMENTAL SYSTEMS NEED FOR OVERHAUL URGED [by telegraph—own correspondent] NAPIER, Friday "I consider one of the greatest curses in all manner of activities in New Zealand is the large number of inspectors," remarked Mr. R. Sainsbury nt the meeting of the Hawke's Bay Education Board to-day, when a resolution from tho Nelson "Education Board was being discussed. The resolution, for which support was urged, made the suggestion that since the business of the department is to be in the hands of a qualified business man, it should not be necessary to have any other than an office director. On the professional side, it should be possible for primary and secondary inspectors efficiently to inspect all schools, primary, secondary and technical, throughout the Dominion. The resolution therefore recommended that the offices of chief inspector of primary schools, chief inspector of secondary schools, superintendent of technical education and assistant-director of education bo dispensed with, and that in addition to primary inspection a staff secondary inspector be attached ■whollj or in part to each education district, and that the nine senior inspectors be brought to Wellington at least once annually in order to confer with the director of education .and deteiminc matters of policy. "We have far too many inspectors in the Education-Department," continued Mr. Sainsbury. "One man does something. An inspector inspects it. His work is inspected by someone else, who, in turn, has to submit to inspection by another officer, and so it goes on until tho chief inspector is reached and ho gets about £2OOO a year for it. I do not suggest we should do away with all inspectors, but I do think greater economv could be achieved. Mr. R. C. Wright: I think the motion is a step in the right direction. I think a conference should be held yearly between tho director of education and the senior inspectors, at which all matters could be dealt with. Tho three chief inspectors named could easily bo dispensed with. In any case, I consider all the three offices could be handled by one man. , "Of course, I am not suggesting that the officers have not got plenty to do, said Mr. Sainsbury. Mr. G. A. Maddison said he considered that a business man should be at tho head of every Government Department, Education included. The departments had to handle millions yearly and there was a definite need for a man at the head who had been trained in business, so that the best management of the funds would be possible. Tho motion that the Nelson resolution be approved and supported was carried unanimously.