EDUCATION QUESTION

Otago Witness, Issue 3414, 20 August 1919, Page 22

EDUCATION QUESTION

CONFERENCE IN AUCKLAND. AUCKLAND, August, 12. A conference, convened by the Education Board of members of Parliament and educational authorities -was held to-day. Mr Banks, chairman of the board, in his opening speech, said that the Council of Education passed a resolution that no one child should have less than 12 square feet of air space, yet so limited was the present accommodation that it would take half a million sterling to meet that requirement throughout the dominion. It was a disgrace that in a country like New Zealand such a condition of affairs should exist. They must do all in, then- power to bring about an improvement. Dr Reekie said that the overcrowding in many of the city schools was shocking, only eight square feet being provided, instead of 12. Something must be done immediately. A formidable list of figures was presented, showing the requirements of the Auckland district. Sir Frederick Lang moved, and it was resolved unanimously—" That the Auckland members of Parliament present support to their utmost the interests of education, and to that end act in concert, and urge Parliament to vote sufficient during the coming session to place education upon a satisfactory footing."