OPAKU SCHOOL RESIDENCE.

Patea Mail, Volume XXIX, 13 December 1907, Page 2

OPAKU SCHOOL RESIDENCE.

At the November meeting of the Wanganui Education Board intimation was received from the Department that house allowance for the teacher at Opaku had been disallowed as a residence was provided, Gonsidering that the residence referred to comprised one room of about 10ft x 12ft, in which the teacher, who is married and has one child, has to live, and that an application for a new residence has received the t reply that it will receive consideration when the appropriations are being dealt with, the Board wrote to the Department pointing out the circumstances of the case. At yesterday’s meeting the following reply was read from the Minister: —I am directed by the Minister to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 21st inst., regarding the payment of house allowance to the teacher of the Opaku school, and in reply to say that in the absence of a strict rule that house allowance shall not be given when a residence of any kind is occupied, the decision in each case would become a question as to whether or not the residence was adequate, and the Minister is not pre* pared to enter into such considerations, therefore the rule must be upheld.” As the appropriations, in which may be included a sum for a new residence, are expected to come to hand very shortly, it was decided to hold the matter over until next meeting.