EXPENDITURE ON EDUCATION

Otago Witness, Issue 3510, 21 June 1921, Page 27

EXPENDITURE ON EDUCATION

QUESTION OF ECONOMY WELLINGTON. .Tune 16. At this afternoon’s s tring of the Council of Education, Mr M’Callum moved that in view of the acute position of the puh'io finances and the- ever-increasing expenditure on education, the time had arrived for tho council to advise the Government in which way it- will be advisable to effect economies should occasion arise. Mr M’Callum said he did not contend that it was necessary to economise in education, but if the need arose the council should say where the economies could be made. It should not be bv economising ihe salaries of teachers receiving up io £2OO. Economies must bo rn.de in other quarters, and in higher salaries. The time might come when it would he necesearv to cut out all extravagances. and expend money only on necessaries for a year or two. Mr W. A. Banks thought not only in the Education Department, but in 1 lie publio service generally economies should be effected. It- was said that the cost of the publio service was £I6.OCO.fKX) annually. If that was so it. was a tremendous drain on a small country I he New Zealand. Mr J. R-. Kirk thought it rather strange that the council should be the body to suggest economy, which should only be practised in the Education Department after it- was practised in every other department,. If directed aright education should he tho means of helping us out over difficulties. After further discussion an amended motion was carried advocating tlie appointment of a committee to watch the process cf economising the Government system so far as it affected education.