EDUCATION BOARD AREAS

Southland Times, Issue 17788, 18 July 1916, Page 5

EDUCATION BOARD AREAS

AN OBJECTION. MR HANAN’S REPLY. (Per United Press Association.) WELLINGTON, July 17. A deputation from the Canterbury Education Hoard waited on the Hon, J. A. Hanan and objected to having to take over the West Coast district schools under the new’ system of amalgamation of smaller districts with larger ones. Mr Opie, Chairman of the North Canterbury Board, said that the conditions of the West Coast schools were so bad that tile Canterbury Board would be unwarranted in taking them over unless it received a special contribution from the Government, owing to the great cost of putting schools . Into a satisfactory condition. It would be unfair to saddle Canterbury with West Coast liabilities, amounting approximately to £3 0,000. The Minister for Education replied that it would lie necessary to have a departmental enquiry witli a view' of ascertaining if the position was as serious as stated. The West Coast Board had received moneys from time to time and lie would be sorry to think that any district bad let its buildings get into such a state as alleged by the deputation. The financial problem raised by merging the districts would be d’fficult to solve, but the stronger boards should be prepared in the meantime to help weaker ones. He thought that the benefits of merging, which would operate next month, would outw’eigh temporary disadvantages. The matters brought to notice would be enquired into.