EDUCATION

Southland Times, Issue 21835, 12 October 1932, Page 9

EDUCATION

ECONOMIES EFFECTED. REPORT PRESENTED BY MINISTER. DETAILS OF SAVINGS. Details of the economies effected by the Education Department and of the further savings that will take place during the next two years are contained in the report of the Minister of Education (the Hon. R. Masters). In all a saving of £1,224,582 is anticipated. “The severe financial depression through which this country is passing, in common with most othei’ countries, made it imperative thc-i economies should be effected in all departments of the State, and it was impossible to avoid reducing expenditure on education,” the report states. ‘Every care has, however, been taken to effect economies that will have the least harmful effect on the system as a whole. The earnest desire of the Government to maintain the essential parts of the system is evidenced by the fact that, although the National Expenditure Commission felt impelled to recommend some very drastic economies, not all of these were adopted by the Government. The task was rendered more difficult by the fact that no less than 80 per cent, of the total sum of money appropriated annually by Parliament for current expenditure on education is spent on salaries. When this item was excluded there remained, apart from capital expenditure and superannuation subsidy, only about £700,000 on which reductions might be effected. “Up to March, 1932, the following were the principal economies effected: — Reduction in Expenditure.

* Includes School Committee incidentals, conveyance and board of pupils, boarding-out of children, etc. fincrease.

“Since March 31 further economies have been decided upon, the most important of which at the time of writing are as follow: (1) A further reduction in salaries of from 5 to 12J per cent.; (2) raising of the school age of admission from five years to six years; (3) limitation of overscale salaries; (4) withdrawal of grants for sewing ’and science; (5) reduction of grants to primary and post-primary boarc; for administration; (6) closing of two training colleges, one at Wellington and the other at Dunedin, and reduction in allowances to students; (7) withdrawal ' grants to kindergartens. “The following figures show the extent to which reductions become effective in educational expenditure:— 1932-33. (Estimated 1929-30. Expenditure.) Reduction.

Gross expenditure (including buildings, addi- £ £ £ tions, etc.) 4,181,778 2,957,196 1,224,582 “Many of the economies already decided upon do not become fully operative for some time. —e.g., the closing of the training colleges at Dunedin and Wellington will reduce expenditure commencing in February next, the restriction of admission to pupils of six years of age will affect the grading of schools during the next two years, and the savings will become effective gradually during that period.”

Expenditure. Reduc-1931-32. tion. £ £ Salaries of teachers, instructors, child-wel-fare officers, inspectors of schools and departmental officsrs 2,346,943 279,685 Subsidies to primary, secondary and technical schools and University colleges 2,132 37,636 Subsidies to public libraries - — 2,998 Maintenance of buildings 106/-80 48.515 Manual instruction 73,156 17,795 Travelling expenses of inspectors of schools, child-welfare officers, etc. 18,937 6,394 Education Boards’ administration 34,633 4,515 National Scholarships 9,787 1,396 School and class libraries, etc. 2,052 School Journal—Printing, etc. 5,772 1,229 Grants to University of New Zealand and constituent colleges 53,309 17,898 University Scholarships and Bursaries 15,648 11,015 Workers’ Educational Association 3,031 469 Allowances to training college students 104,341 17,575 Examinations 3,370 4,197 T Maintenance of children in child-welfare institutions 31,800 2,829 Material and stores, child-welfare 3,677 1,305 Printing and stationery 2,196 2,691 Gramophone records 154 3,764 Grants to Teachers’ Superannuation Fund 43,000 100,000 New buildings, additions, etc. 259,932 183,953 Other* 327,189 fll,620 3,445,487 736,291