EDUCATION BOARD

Southland Times, Issue 21820, 24 September 1932, Page 5

EDUCATION BOARD

MONTHLY MEETING.

DUNEDIN TRAINING COLLEGE.

The monthly meeting of the Southland Education Board was held yesterday, Mr S. Rice presiding over Messrs F. G. Stevenson, W. Bell, J. Campbell and H. Smith. Regarding the proposed closing of the Dunedin Training College, the Minister of Education (the Hon. R. Masters), wrote as follows: —“I have to acknowledge receipt of your letter of August 26 asking that the Otago Board s proposals for the retention of the Dunedin Training College be given a trial for next year. In reply I have to say that it would be impossible to grant your board’s request without at the same time giving favourable consideration to the similar request of the Wellington Board on behalf of the Wellington Training College. A careful examination of the Otago Board’s proposals has not, however, disclosed any sufficient reason of economy or efficiency which would justify the Government in departing from its decision to cease to maintain two of the training colleges. With reference to your statement that Southland students will suffer a severe handicap in regard to expense for travelling to and from Christchurch, I have to say that I have under consideration the payment of one return fare to students. Before reaching its decision to close the Otago and Wellington Training Colleges the Government gave the matter very serious consideration and viewed it in all its aspects. I regret, therefore, that lam unable to accede to your request that the Otago Board be given an opportunity to prove its assertions by the test of experience.” In connection with this matter the secretary of the Otago Education Board forwarded the following communication: “I have to thank you for your letter of September 14, with enclosures, which will come before the board at its meeting next week. At the last meeting of various interests held here, it was decided to petition Parliament, and that signatures be obtained over the whole of Otago and Southland. It has been decided to ask the school committee in each district to take charge of the petition. In anticipation that your board will be willing to ask your school committees to do the same, I forward a number of copies of the petition. I also attach copies of the circulars which have been sent to town and country school committees respectively. On a separate petition form we purpose obtaining the signatures of all local bodies and organizations which have been assisting us in our efforts here. Perhaps you might consider doing the same in Invercargill. This board fully appreciates the efforts you are making on behalf of the Training College." The chairman said his sympathies were entirely with Otago and, after all, the college in Dunedin was for Southland too. He had no doubt the matter would come before Parliament during the present session and he advised the members to widely circularize the petitions.

The Minister’s letter was received in the meantime and it was decided to inform the Otago Board that Southland would strongly support its claim for the retention of the cel 1 --'-.