EDUCATION GRANTS.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXXV, Issue 12984, 27 January 1910, Page 6

EDUCATION GRANTS.

CONSIDERABLY REDUCED THIS YEAR. Strong 'Protests by Wanganui Board. At last night's meeting of the Wanganui Education Board, the administration of the Education Department came in for severe criticism by the chairman (Mr F. Piiani). He complained that since Mr. Hogben had been in charge of the Department, the Boards had practically to do what he suggested, and that the powers and finances of the Boards had been reduced to a minimum. Regarding the reduction of the maintenance grant, Mr. Piraui moved the following resolution: “That the attention of the Minister of Education bo directed to the fact that this Board’s maintenance was over £IOOO ill debit at the commencement of the year, after the Government grant had been taken into consideration, leaving that much less than nothing to carry on for at least six months; that therefore the reduction of ,£1317 in the maintenance for tho last five years grant- precludes the Board from carrying out its functions iu keeping the school buildings in a proper state and urges the Minister to bring this matter before Cabinet with the view of having the full amount of the previous grant . handed over.'’ Mr Guthrie seconded the motion, and said he had seen the Minister on the subject. ’The Minister contended that the original grant was made on. the basis that the average school building bad a life <jf 30 years. The amount was to be held by the Boards in trust for renewing these buildings, but the only Board to do this was the North Canterbury Board, who had a credit balance of <£sooo. The Minister had admitted that the vote this year was inadequate, but said that the Wanganui Board was an expensive, Board, though not so extravagant as Wellington. He admitted that the schools in the Wanganui District had been kept iu excellent order.

The motion was carried, as were the following resolutions: “That the Education Department bo informed that the Board is willing to supply free, school books to pupils after receipt of .the money to pmrclia.se those books, but declines to incur any such liability, as its experience has been so unsatisfactory in the past especially as the Board’s overdraft at the end pi' the year was nearly ,£3000.” “That this Board desires to protest against the reduction of £5 from the grant to teachers attending the teachers' training college, on the ground that they had received a similar amount ironi the. Board for acting as relieving teachers during the month of December, that no deduction would have been made had those teachers been idle or had earned money outside the Board's jurisdiction, and, under the circumstances the deduction seems to be unworthy of the Department, and a reproach to the administration, especially as none of the sufferers are in a position financially to afford the loss.”

“That a circular letter be forwarded to the school committees throughout the district informing them that owing to the maintenance grant having been reduced by one-third by the Government, the Board will have to rigidly economise the expenditure for the current year. They also regret to have to inform the committees that the Government has reduced the allowances to school committees by 9d per pupil.”