INCREASE SOUGHT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27385, 10 May 1950, Page 10

INCREASE SOUGHT

Educational Expenditure MINISTER’S APPLICATION PA' WELLINGTON, May 9. He was asking Cabinet to grant about £12,500,000 for educational expenditure this year—an increase of £1,000,000 on last year’s grant, the Minister of Education, Mr Algie, told the annual conference of the Educational Institute today. “ The estimate is now on the Prime Minister’s table,” he said. “ I do not know whether I will get it all.” The Minister said that if the estimate was cut he would be confronted with the problem of where to make reductions in expenditure. The status of teachers was inviolable, he considered, and the next in order of importance were classrooms; then came the provision of proper playgrounds and facilities. “ Lowest down are the things you and I know are desirable but not essential,” he said. Mr Algie added: “ Nothing will be done by me as Minister of Education that could affect you in any *vav without giving your executive in Wellington the opportunity of knowing about it and giving me your views.” He said the only qualification to that promise would be in the rare event of an imposition of Cabinet secrecy.