COST NOT JUSTIFIED

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18387, 3 May 1934, Page 5

COST NOT JUSTIFIED

SCHOOL OF FORESTRY STATEMENT BY MINISTER ONLY EIGHT STUDENTS (Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, this day. “If the school were continued, it would mean that, the cost per student to the taxpayer would be about £l2O per annum over and above the fees paid,” remarked the Minister of .Education, tho Hon. B. Masters, when invited to comment on the recent announcement regarding the closing of the school of forestry at Canterbury College. Mr Masters pointed out that it had been necessary 'for the Government to provide considerable .additional financial assistance to Canterbury College in enable it to continue the ordinary functions of the college. “Canterbury College,” said Mr Masters, “has suffered a loss of nearly £OOOO per annum from a fall in rents .to m endowments, due. to the depression, and, as a result, it. lias been necessary to increase the Government giant for arts and general purposes. The Government grant of £IOOO per annum to the school of forestry was withdrawn from April 1, 1032. The loss to the college on the school in 1932 was £(3.13, and the loss last year (was £706. The estimated loss in 1034 is £959, .and fiy the end of this, year the estimated deficit in the school of forestry account will he over £3OOO.

“In 1031 1 there were 26 forestry students. In 1032, the number had fallen to 15; in 1033 to nine, and for the first term this year only eight students are in attendance, two of whom are first-year students. If the school were continued, it would mean that the cost per student to the taxpayer would he about £l2O per annum over and above the fees paid by the student,. “It has to be remembered, also, that, there is a surplus of trained foresters in New Zealand, and a number of ex-stiulents of the school of forestry cannot obtain professional work, and are employed; in a number of cases, as forest laborers. There is, therefore, no justification for the continuance of the school at the present time. ”