CLOSE BUDGETING

Taranaki Daily News, 2 September 1933, Page 14 (Supplement)

CLOSE BUDGETING

VICTORIA COLLEGE. FUTURE UNCERTAIN, A hint that the finances of Victoria University College required careful budgeting for the present year was given during a discussion at the meeting’ of the College Council last night when a letter was received from the Director of the Workers’ Educational Association ’ft)r. I. L. G. Sutherland) asking whether* the council intended to continue to recommend to the University of New Zea- . land, as it had done in the past, that £3OO of the money received from the National Endowment Fund be allocated to the association. “As matters now stand this sum, if received, would be the only appreciable source of income for 1934,” stated Dr. Sutherland. “I was instructed to point out to the council that it would still be possible, with this amount, to keep alive certain valuable W.E.A. activities. The library could be maintained in use and there has now grown up quite a considerable amount of borrowing by post from country districts, as well as direct borrowing in Wellington. The discussion course method, which has proved very successful in recent years, could be continued, as could also the box scheme groups. A certain amount of I voluntary tutorial work could be arranged in Wellington, city and suburbs. This inquiry regarding the grant from the National Endowment Fund is necessitated by the tutorial classes committee having to face the question of the further continuance of W.EA. activities.” Professor W. H. Gould said that the £3OO grant would enable some of the W.E.A. activities to be carried on. The chairman (Mr. P. Levi) pointed out that the reason for the difficult position in which the W.E.A. found itself was the withdrawal of the Government’s annual grant. It would be a pity to allow the W.E.A. activities to cease. If possible they should be kept alive. It ' might be possible in a year or two hence to bring about an improvement. Mr. H. A. Parkinson moved that the council should recommend the New Zea- : land University to follow the course of former years and that the tutorial classes committee should be informed accordingly.

Mr. A. Fair, K.C., raised the question of whether there was any danger of the college being in such a position that the staff would have to be reduced.

Mr. Levi said they did not know. They were in difficulties already, and they were really waiting for the Minister of Education to give them assistance this year. They would be short in December. The registrar (Mr. G. G. S. Robison): We have hardly enough to finish the year. Mr. .Fair said he did not see how the council could make a recommendation until it knew what its own financial position would be. Mr. Levi said he agreed with Mr. Fair. Mr. Parkinson withdrew his motion, and it was decided to postpone further consideration of the grant to the W.E.A. until after the next meeting or the meeting after.