EDUCATION VOTE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 204, 29 August 1936, Page 10

EDUCATION VOTE

'—— I Opinions in Pailiament ESTIMATES DISCUSSED OPEN-AIR SCHOOLS [ Per Pros Association ] WELLINGTON, Aug. 28. The House met at 10.30 and went into Committee of Supply on the Education Estimates. Mr. W. J. Polson (Stratford) drew attention to the over-crowded state of many schools throughout the Dominion. and said that most of the industrial workers were provided with sufficient air space in which lo work by legislation and school children required at least equal considerations. The matter was not a party one, said Mr. Polson, and if the Minister could do anything towards the amelioration of conditions it would have his sincere co-operation. Mr. W. A. Bodkin (Central Otago) expressed appreciation of the work being done by the correspondence branch of the Education Department, and asked the Minister if some allowance could be made to children who were forced to ride to school where the roads were impossible for vehicular traffic. The Minister of Education (Hon. P. Fraser) intimated that provision would be made for such children. Mr. E. L. Cullen (Hawke’s Bay) said that he was sorry to see that the grant for school libraries had not been [ increased, because in many cases the books being offered children in these libraries were not sufficiently modern to attract their interest. School Buildings. Mr. Fraser, in replying to questions regarding school buildings, said that in his opinion the best type of school building was the open-air type. They would have to get boards to agree to this type of school throughout the Dominion, especially in the [Auckland Province, with its equable climate, and the department would all in its power to assist them. He added that Canterbury was far ahead of the other provinces with regard to the matter of open-air schools. Mr. T. H. McCombs (Lyttelton) sought an assurance from the Minister that University bursaries next year would be restored lo their previous level. He contended that a reduction in such bursaries would tend to make the opportunity for University education impossible for the children of working parents. Mr. A. F. Moncur (Rotorua) expressed appreciation of the work being done by the department's correspondence school, and said that the cost per head per pupil in the correspondence school was much less than that for children in ordinary schools. He asked that teachers in the correspondence schools should not be asked to come back to work on Saturday mornings. Mr. E. T. Tirikatane (Southern Maori) advocated that a class in the Maori language should be set up in every school. A very large number of school children to-day could not pronounce Maori words, especially place names, correctly, their pronunciation of these places meaning nothing in Maori and nothing in English. Discrepancy in Salaries. Mr. S. G. Holland (Christchurch North) thanked the Minister for his compliment to Canterbury in connecwith the development of open-air schools. He drew attention to the discrepancy between the salaries of the Director of Education and that of the new Director of Broadcasting, and hoped that on such comparison the education of children would not be regarded as of less importance than broadcasting. Mr. W. E. Barnard (Napier): “You are forgetting the education of the adult through broadcasting.’’ i The Hon. P. Fraser said that he ; hoped to see greater co-operation bei tween the Education and Broadcasti ing Departments and that during his • period as Minister of Education he i would be able to assist the new Director of Broadcasting in organising more extensive services and see the installation of radio in schools. In reply to a question, Mr. Fraser said that the department realised that there was an acute shortage of doctors in some parts of the Dominion [and the question of assisting some [students through their courses to assist in relieving the shortage would have to be considered. Health Estimates. The education estimates were then • passed and the House proceeded to 1 consider the Health Department Estimates of £955,431. The Hon. P. Fraser, in reply to a question regarding a Government 5 bounty to the Dunedin quadruplets, 1 said that the matter was bordering on 5 the very grave problem of the Do- ’ minion's population. The Government f would have to face this subject, not > necessarily this year or next year, but ’ in the near future, and would have to 1 endeavour to encourage larger fam- ' dies by the endowment of mothers or - by some other means, otherwise the position was becoming impossible. ’ The House adjourned at 1 p.m. for 1 luncheon. 1 The House resumed at 2.30 p.m., ■ when it continued the debate on the ! Health Department estimates. Mr W. J. Broadfoot (Opp., Wai--1 tomo) paid a tribute to the line work ’ being cai'ied out by the dental clinics. ; He attiibuted a great part oi the dental troub’iuc through ul the Dominion [ to lack of calcium content, in our ■ food and advocated the liming of pas- [ tures as a contributory tactor towards the elimination of such troubles. ; Mr W. J. Polson (Opp.. Stratford) said that il the Minister could bring about the picvision of facilities for tetter dental care for country school children he wula earn tnv deep gratitude of thousands of country pejplo. Hon. P. Fraser replied that 60 per cent, of the dental clinics at present were working in country districts and l lie remaining 40 per cent, in «i!ie Mr H. E. Herring (Gov.. Mid-Can-terbury» attributed the prevalence of dental decay to over soft foods and ■ over indulgence in sweets. He advocated the greater use of fruit in the ■ dr.ily diet. I Mr Fraser said there was no doubt that the superabundance of sugar in

Bush 14. th? diet had a bad effect on health land he considered it the duty of the Health. Departm c nf. medical profession and the Education Department tn make facts known on health without fear or favour and whether it suited commercial interests or not. The health estimates were passed. i i special arrangen«cnT Reuter’s iu t * On to uther special scureec °! “* forraati °n. is used in the compilation the oversea intelligence published in ths Hsue, and a || rights therein in Australia and New Zealand are reserved. Such of the cable news on this page u is haa “rwed in the Times and it eabled to Australia and New Zealand bv perl ?' , . M io“- It should be .understood that the opinions are net those o' tile Hme> •des. exaressbr elated ta U a.