THE DIVERSION OF FUNDS.

Wanganui Chronicle, Issue 12856, 12 December 1912, Page 4

THE DIVERSION OF FUNDS.

MAINTENANCE AND iBE-BUILDIVG

Ot1 SCHOOLS

KEEPING BOARDS WITJBINbHEOK.

"Attention/ says the annual report of the Education Department " hns repeatedly been called to the fact that during the last few years Boards of Education have generally 'liveried io other purposes amounts Voted by Ppcliament and distributed by the Government specially for the purposes of maintenance and re-building. In vie'v of the necessity of expending in the near future a very large sum «-m the replacement of worn out and dilapidated schools, it seems advisable' to once more ibring the question under no^'c.e. According to the report theivj siould have been a net balance to the credit of the school buildings' ma'.nfcenance account of £86,214 at. the end of last year, whereas the net balance actuary existing was only £30,221; cou.si^iiontlv the Boards have diverted-to <.ther purposes amounts totalling jC-Vj.CMO. "In accordance with Vne '■ecommendation of the Education Commission," says the report, "the Department has informed Boards that it has no objection to a transfer*of seven rer cent from maintenance to new buildings, to cover the cost of small ac!ditiois_,anS alterations coming within the meaning of the appropriation which defines the maintenance grant as a grant hr general maintenance of school lmildin<?s. and for additions to buili"n;;s, alterations, furniture*, fillings, fencing, rents, (additions find improvements of sites," etc. The circular notifying Boards of this concession stated in clear terms that due provision had first to be made for maintenance and rebuilding. It is of the utmost. importance that'this depreciation fund be kept as far as,possible intact and Boards are urged to expend thuir school building maintenance grants solely on the purposes for which the. mo ■lev.-Tweie appropriated .by Parliament"' viz maintenance and rebuild^u of schools and small additions, etc.. the cost'«if which latter item.-should not oxeeed in the total-seven per cent of the maintenance grant.