CHANGE SUGGESTED.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20440, 19 October 1934, Page 12

CHANGE SUGGESTED.

Control of Two Church Schools. FINANCIAL DIFFICULTIES. The most difficult and contentious question on the order paper of the Synod of the Christchurch Diocese was settled yesterday after a lengthy discussion on the system of administration of the two Church primary day schools of St Michael’s and St Majthew’s. The present financial difficulties of the Diocesan Board of Education were stressed by speakers and two motions were passed, the result of which will be the probable adoption of some form of local control of the two schools by the parishes in which they are situated and consequent financial relief to the board.

The question came before Synod in the form of four motions, advanced by the Rev A. 11. M’C. Acheson (Waimate), on behaif of a committee which examined the financial position of the education board. The motions were: (1) “That at the end of the present school year the Board of Education hand over to local committees, on which the board shall be represented, the management of the Church primary day. schools under its control.” (2) “ The board allow to each of these two committees a sum as generous as possible (either as a per capita grant or as may best suit the circumstances), after which the board shall have no further financial responsibility.” (3) “It be left to the 4 incoming board to deal with all details such as transfers, personnel -of committees. etc.” (4) “ That after this financial year the board make provision for reduction of their deficit by an annual sum of at least £50.” Mr Acheson moved the first of the four motions, which was seconded by Dean J. A. Julius.

Canon C. E. Perry (St Michael’s) raised the point of order that the motions were not in harmony with the existing statute under which the board operated, and Synod had not the power to make such a change in control as that suggested in the motion.

The Chancellor, Mr 11. D. Andrews, supported the point, stating that Synod could give advice but not a direction to the board. He moved as an amendment—“ That in view of the present debit balance in the Education Board accounts the Synod recognises that the board, if it cannot increase its income, must diminish its expenditure, and to that end advises the board to try to establish a system of local control of the two primary Church day schools as will relieve the board from financial responsibility for carrying on such schools beyond such subsidies as the board’s financial resources will enable it to make to each one school by way of capitation or otherwise, as the board in its discretion shall decide. All details of such scheme should be worked out by the board under the powees of delegation or otherwise given to it in the statute constituting the board.” Canon A. 11. Norris (Cashmere) seconded the amendment. Mr Acheson accepted- Mr Andrews's amendment, which was carried. Mr Acheson then withdrew the second and third motions and moved the fourth, which was carried.