PEN-AND-INK MONEY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 10361, 16 May 1895, Page 4

PEN-AND-INK MONEY.

At yesterday's meeting of the Education Board the following communication was received from.the seccefcary of the Oamaru North School Committee. :— The Oamaru North. School Committee have had under consideration the communications frcto the board's auditor acd yourself in reference to the refusal of the auditor to certify the correctness of the committee's balance sheet because of the board's grant having been applied to an improper purpose. I am directed to say that the committee still hold the view that the expenditure of the money derived from the parliamentary giant upon pens, ink, and other school requisites | of the kind is not an improper or illegal use of the | money. These are clearly necessary to the carrying on of a school, and as the Education Act does not give any authority to levy fees for . the purpose of providing them the committee respectfully maintain that in using for the purpose money < derived from the only fund created by the act they have dove no wrong—most certainly not such a wrong as wairoats the auditor, under the authority of the board, refusing to sign the committee's acqounts. I am, therefore, directed to ask that the auditor be instructed to - sign the coiumittee'3 balance sheet and so prevent an . unpleasant conflict 'between"-the'board and the committee. I am further directed to say that the committee believe that the board's resolution-iu support of the auditor v/as passed under a misapprehension of the facts, and that on the position being clearly understood the board will withdraw its authority to the auditor to refuse assent to the committee's accounts. The committee respectfully urge that it is incumbent on the board either to do this or to clearly show that thero exists some source whence school requisites can be obtained without imposing fees that are contrary to an act which provides for free and compulsory education. Mr Boueib said that the board must either uphold their auditor or change their regulations. He believed it was in their power to chaDge their regolfttions and, allow the money to be spent as indicated. ■;... . _. ; The How.: J. MacGregoe said that one thing quite certain was that this question should Dot be raised in that way. As Mr'Borrie said, the regulations of the board expressly,forbade the application, of any of the board's capitation allowance in the way mentioned by the committee. He thought the auditor was unquestionably right in taking the stand he had. After a slight discussion, it-was decided to uphold the action of, the auditor, and to consider at nest meeting the general questions raised by the committee. ' .