PROTEST LODGED

Southland Times, Issue 21661, 24 March 1932, Page 7

PROTEST LODGED

EDUCATION ECONOMIES COMMISSION’S PROPOSALS CRITICIZED BOARD’S RESOLUTION The Southland Education Board, at its monthly meeting yesterday, decided to ally itself with northern boards in emphatically protesting to the Minister of Education against the drastic recommendations, regarding the system as a whole, recently brought forward by the Economy Commission. Discussion on the question was prompted by replies received from several Southland Members of Parliament who had been acquainted with the board’s views that the necessity of giving all boards an opportunity of conferring before legislative action might be taken should be emphasized upon the Minister. In acknowledging the board’s communication, Mr James Hargest, M.P., wrote as follows: —“There is some confusion of ideas as to what is happening, and 1 would like to -point out that the suggested economies are those of the commission set up, but each item will have to be discussed by the House. There is not the slightest possibility of the whole of the suggestions being given effect to, and I do not believe the Government will make the attempt. The House rises on Wednesday next and will resume about. April 5, when the commission’s report will be discussed. I will be in Invercargill from Good Friday until Monday, April 4, and if your board were meeting during that time I would gladly meet them to discuss the whole matter.” Letters were also received from the Otago and Auckland Boards, the former mainly in connection with the Economy Commission’s recommendation in regard to thp closing of two training colleges, and the latter in regard to the proposed abolition of education boards. “To claim that the enormous amount of work now performed by boards could be carried out by the department in Wellington and save £50,000 annually is erroneous. It is simply using the frenzied state of the public mind to attain the long-cherished wish of the department to get absolute control,” stated the Auckland board’s communication. “It is worthy of note that on each occasion when an attempt has been made to abolish boards, it has been done secretly. On no occasion has an opportunity been given boards to refute the statements or figures of the department.” Mr S. Rice said that the whole report of the commission regarding education was very misleading. “There is no doubt but that the Government is endeavouring to centralize in Wellington,”-he said, “and to build up a big army of public servants there at the expense of the other cities. It is nothing but panic legislation and they are trying to save money in any way. The country' schools especially are threatened with ‘getting it in the neck,’ and it is our duty to protect them.” Statement by Board’s Secretary. The secretary of the board (Mr R. Brownlie) referred to the following recommendations in the commission’s report:— (1) “We consider that the ex]>ensive country manual training centres might well be closed and recommend accordingly. The effect would be to require the ordinary school stall to provide handwork instruction as is done in the cases of the other country schools referred to. —Estimated saving £5000.” (2) “Instruction in woodwork and cookery is at present given to Forms I, 11, corresponding to Standards V and VI. We are of opinion that in so far as I'orm I, i.c,, Standard V, is concerned the instruction might be discontinued and this would save, the salaries of a number of teachers and their travelling expenses. We estimate that die grants to boards for salaries, travelling expenses and incidentals would be reduced by £13,000. We have already recommended the closing down of expensive manual training centres and the present recommendation is in addition to the saving which we estimate can be effected by the closing of those centres. We consider that the pupils of Form I can ultimately obtain instruction in handwork and cookery when they reach Form II and later still when they commence their post-primary education.- —Estimated saving £13,000. Total estimated saving £lB,otfo.’'

“If the above recommendation were adopted," said Mr Brownlie, “Riverton, Winton, Gore and Wyndham Manual Training Schools would be closed and the services of three male and three female permanent instructors dispensed with, two instructors only being necessary for the instruction of Form II children in Invercargill schools, and for instruction in district high schools. The approximate annual expenditure in Southland would be £7OO, £2500 below- the amount expended in 1931. The Economy Commission recommends the abolition of education Iroards, the work at present carried out by the boards being undertaken by the department, the .estimated saving being £50,000 in administration exixmses. The Southland Education Board’s administration expenditure for 1931 was 4/8 per pupil in average attendance. It can be reasonably assumed that similar expenses of all boards w-ould not exceed 5/- per pupil. The cost of administration for 200,000 children in average attendance at. primary and district high schools is approximately £50,000 per annum. The commission’s suggestion that the work of education boards can bo carried out by the Department at no expense is an absurdity.” “Hear, hear,” interjected Messrs Stevenson and Rice. Allowances For Conveyance. Referring to the proposed abolition el allowances for conveyance, Mr Brownlie explained that the amount expended on conveyance during 1931 was £5876. Of that amount, £2738 was for contracts, me balance £3137, being ordinary capitation. “The cost of fares for pupils conveyed by rail is not included in the above figures," he said. ‘"The Economy Commission’s recommendations would involve the cancellation of contracts for conveyance of children to Limehills School and Lochiel School. The contracts for conveyance from Liliburn to Clifden, Freshford to Wcndon and Freshford to Wendonside would possibly also come under review. Exact data are not immediately available, but a large percentage of the pupils attending the district high schools at Riverton and Winton are conveyed by rail, and cessation of free conveyance would undoubtedly considerably reduce the attendance at these schools and cause a reduction in staffing. “With regard to capitation allowance for incidentals for manual instruction, prior to 1931 the amount provided was 30 per cent on salaries paid. In 1931 salaries were reduced 10 per cent and the capitation allowance to 25 per cent of salaries paid. The reduction in the allowance amounted to

25 per cent. The recommendation that salaries be reduced by a further 10 per cent and that the capitation be reduced to 20 per cent on salaries paid (if adopted) would reduce the capitation to 54 per cent of that obtaining in 1930. A reduction of 46 per cent in the allowance leaves an amount totally inadequate for the carrying out of the instruction, the board not having reserves in the manual instruction account on which to draw. Other boards are in a similar positron.” The chairman (Mr 11. Smith) : I don’t think it is at all likely these recommendations will go through. Mr F. G. Stevcnrion: Look at the position of the teachers. They have already lost 10 per cent in salaries, while they are now threatened with another 10 per cent reduction by eliminating increments and there is also the possibility of a further 10 per cent, a total of 30 per cent. We should protect them. Need For Protest. Continuing, Mr Stevenson said it was certainly essential that a protest should be forwarded to the Minister. “The boards were not even consulted w-hen the commission was set up,” lie said. I We were not allowed to express our views at all. The commission is composed of hard-headed business men who have never been on the bread and Butter line.” ' After further discussion, it was resolved, on the motion of Mr Rice, seconded by Mr W. Grieve, that the following protest should be forwarded to the Minister of Education: — ‘This board stronglv protests against the adoption of the Economy Commission’s report on education economies until full opportunity has been given the various boards throughout New Zealand carefully to consider same and state their case.” The chairman remarked that Mr J. C. Thomson, who, owing to illness, was unable to be present that, day, was preparing a report on the commission’s recommendation®, and it was ultimately resolved to consider the whole niatter at a special meeting to be held on Monday, April 4, and that Mr J. Hargcst, M.P., be invited to attend.