WELLINGTON EDUCATION BOARD.

Otago Witness, Volume 02, Issue 2420, 2 August 1900, Page 12

WELLINGTON EDUCATION BOARD.

In consequence of the unsatisfactory condition oi their finances, the Wellington Education Board are instituting drastic retrenchments in several directions. Notice of dismissal has been given _to aboiit 40 teachers in various 'parts of the district, and the board's grant to the Technical School is likely to be cut down, by onethird. The intimation given by the board does not necessarily imply a certainty of rei duced .staffs or salaries, but it is intended to apprise teachers of the possibility of both, and to give them. an opportunity to make any explanation they may deem desirable. It appears that in many instances schools have been over-staffed and over-paid on ihe -attendance basis, and as the funds of the board are at a low ebb it becomes -essential for the board to consider the question of lessening the staffs and salaries where circumstances warrant it. It is' stated that there has been a general fallingoff of attendance all over the colony of late, and no reasonable explanation can bs offered for this vstate of things. WELLINGTON, July 25.

At the Education Board meeting the chairman (Mr Blair) said they had a debit balance of £3936 for maintenance and £1513 on the building account, with, liabilities of £1974 — a" total on the wrong side of £7424. He referred to the falling off in tlie attendance, last, quarter being 380 less than the previous one, but he could not account for it. -A discussion on this subject elicited various opinions as to the cause, the weather, prevalence of holidays lately, and the removal of children to Catholic and private schools all being blamed. A motion was unanimously carried that the chairman be authorised to draft a circular giving three months' notice of contemplated reductions in the teaching staff and salaries in excess, and impressing upon committees and teachers the advisability of securing increased attendances at school to obviate the necessity for drastic measures. A report from the Technical Sciiool Committee was adopted, requesting that, in the absence of provision by the State for technical education, three months' notice be given of the discontinuance of the cookery classes. The question of continuing the other branches was postponed. Al schedule was presented showing that in all £881 10s per annum was being paid to teachers in excess of the scale allowance, and £1490 in excess of the staff. Against this 16 teachers are paid £335 too little.