SCHOOL COMMITTEES' ASSOCIATION.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 19999, 15 July 1920, Page 8

SCHOOL COMMITTEES' ASSOCIATION.

♦ * * DOMINION CONFERENCE. [Per Press Association.] WELLINGTON, July 15 Representatives of the conference of Dominion School Committees’ Association interviewed tho Prime Minister and the Minister of Education to-dav P"™ bet ore them tho resolutions ot the conference. Air Massey said that ho was in sympathy with their requests, but he had to think of the cost as Minister of Finance. He- ..now that the Dominion was suffering hem a scarcity of teachers and the inadequacy of the school buildings. To unoa the attitude of the Government to education, he would mention that ni r oi | e o-£ ear undin S March 31, 1912. L1,214,d2f was spent, while for iho year ending March 31, 1920, the eTT-^.nn 18 an increase oi Li’lM’-IJO. Ho thought it quite likely shat the capitation paid to school committees Mould have to ho increased A. steady increase had already oeemred tne figures for 1914 being £4B 000 and lor 1920 £BO,OOO. ’ The Minister of Finance informed the deputation that It might bo possible to make a moderate increase in the annual grant to school committees it it was proved that larger grants were necessary, and he woufd he glad to back up then requests. There was an urgent need he agreed, for uni»onn school hooks, and as. soon as the paper shortage was overcome the De partmont would give practical effect -o the proposal.. He also approved of he proposal that all schools should have oential Hvu’jlf.. Thero was no doubt that schools were understaffed and the Department was doing its utmost by increasing salaries to make the profession attractive. It was Ida ambition to get tho sizes of classes doMii, and he also desired to increase the leaving age of the pupils. Ho hoped to see 1100 lo 1500 young people entering tiro training schools next January.