SCHOOL GRANTS INCREASED

Southland Times, Issue 22999, 19 September 1936, Page 7

SCHOOL GRANTS INCREASED

Canterbury Board

(United Press Association.)

Christchurch, September 18.

The allowances paid by the Canterbury Education Board to school committees will be increased by an average of between 40 and 50 per cent, and payment will be made retrospective to April 1, according to statements made at a meeting of the board. The finance committee reported having received a statement from the Education Department setting out the increases payable, and it was decided to place on record the board’s appreciation of the action of the Minister of Education (the Hon. P. Fraser) in making the additional amounts available for the assistance of the funds of school committees.

“This is the most pleasant news for many years,” said the chairman of the finance committee (Mr C. S. Thompson). “We have been fighting for this for 17 years, and now we can announce very substantial increases. The average is between 40 and 50 per cent, and payment is retrospective to April 1. It will allow committees to increase the wages of the caretakers, some of whom are woefully underpaid.” “This is the best news we have ever received,” commented Mr W. P. Spencer.