REFORMS IN EDUCATION

Taranaki Daily News, 16 October 1935, Page 7

REFORMS IN EDUCATION

MINISTER’S INDICATION

CRITICISM BY LABOUR PARTY.

QUESTION OF FIVE-YEAR-OLDS.

VOTE LESS BY £29,000 THIS YEAR.

By Telegraph—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night.

An indication that reforms in the education system were under consideration by the Government was given by the Minister of Education, Mr. S. G. Smith, when the departmental vote was before the House of Representatives to-day. Mr. W. E. Parry (Lab., Auckland Central) asked what was the Government’s intention regarding the admittance of five-year-old children to schools. Mr. D. G. Sullivan (Lab., Avon) regretted that some additional money was not provided for the incidental expenses of school committees,

Mr. A. J. Stallworthy (Ind., Eden) thought it very wrong that the probationary teachers on relief rates of pay should be asked to teach full-sized classes and be given the work of a fully paid teacher.

Mr. Savage asked the Minister if he would consult the Minister of Finance with the object of securing a substantial grant for making an allowance of milk to all school children.

Mr. Sullivan sought information regarding the future of training colleges. Mr. H. T. Armstrong (Lab., Christchurch East) criticised the low salaries paid to child welfare workers. He said the duties of those officers were most important and were often unpleasant. He also mentioned that the total education vote was £29,000 lower than v in the previous year. He had hoped the new Minister would have been more progressive and would have insisted on a larger vote.

Mr.-H. S. S. Kyle (Co.,* Riccarton) stressed the need for instituting a scheme for training veterinarians in New Zealand. He considered the Government .should give some assistance to have young men trained in this science as three or four could be absorbed each year in that profession. Youths at present had' to go abroad to take the course required and some who desired to do so could not afford it. TRAINING COLLEGE REOPENING. Mr. R. Semple (Lab., Wellington East) urged the re-opening of the Wellington Training College. He said hardship was placed on many young people who had to go to another city for training. Mr. Smith said the question of five-year-olds was now before the Education Committee for investigation arid there would be an opportunity at a later stage to discuss that question. Referring to the visit of the director of education overseas he said he was sure great benefit would be derived from knowledge gained by the director while abroad. Regarding the incidental expenses of school committees, Mr. _ Smith said the vote of £104,000 was equal to a capitation of about 10s a.pupil. The pre-war vote was equal to only about 5s 6d a pupil. The question of increasing the grant to school committees was now before Cabinet and the supplementary estimates would show what increase if any could be granted. The abolition of the rationing scheme would throw 300 rationed teachers out of employment. Nobody wanted that.:

The salaries of child welfare officers were controlled by the Public Service Commissioner, not the Minister, said Mr. Smith. He added that rationed teachers were under the education boards, which had a good deal of discretion in their use. • ■ ■

He was in hopes next year of bringing about a number of reforms in the way of the payment of capitation, staffing of schools, etc. He would be glad also to go into the question of training veterinarians when considering bursaries. The question of training teachers and increasing the number of trainees wa« now under the consideration of Cabinet and he hoped to secure sufficient teachers to overtake the growing number of large classes.