EDUCATION MATTERS

Waipukurau Press, Volume XXX, Issue 188, 17 August 1935, Page 6

EDUCATION MATTERS

BOARD CHAIRM AN’S VIEWS

WQSK OF “UNDERSTRAPPERS”

Declarations that restrictive legislation passed on April 5 was framed by “understrappers” in the Department of Education, and that the Minister of Education, the Hon. >S. G. Smith, did not realise the effect it would have upon education board administration, were made by Mr G. A. Maddison, chairman of the Hawke’s Bay Education, Board, yesterday. This legislation allowed the board only £240 to be spent upon subsidising 188 schools for maintenance. Mr T. Rowe said it was itoo silly for words. The board is to make urgent representations to the Minister.

Mr Ma'ddison said he was surprised at the tolerant attitude of school committees in this matter. School committees had done wonderful work and in the last decade had raised £500,000 for the purpose of maintaining their schools. The spirit of service should be encouraged to the full, but the attitude of the department was not calculated to encourage and maintain that spirit. He had no doubt that if the board authorised any expenditure in excess of that permitted by the legislation, the Government Audi’. Department would surcharge members of the board, who would have no redress. Minister May Change His Mind The Rev. F. L. Frost asked if the Minister wouTrT repeal the legislation, to which Mr Maddison replied that the Minister had no intention at the present time of repealing it.

“But the education boards are becoming so uneasy in their minds that I think the Minister may change his mind,” Mr Maddison continued. “Last session, legislation was passed limiting the amount that any education board might upon assisting school committees in any one year towards the maintenance of schools. The board is .allowed to spend only 5 per cent of the total maintenance grant, which in the case of Hawke’s Bay is £240 among 188 schools.” (Laughter).

Mr T. Rowe: Too silly for words. Mr Maddison said it had to he remembered that some years ago the Government approved the subsidising of school committees. Tn recent years the board was called upon to take the place of the Government in respect of subsidising and assisting school committees towards the maintenance and repair of school buildings. “The position is impossible,” he continued. “We have already sipent over 5 per cent of our allowance, and we cannot now help the schools from East Cape fo Woodville. We are prevented from helping school committees in any way, though we wish to do so.” No Reply Received Mr T. A. Coleman: We can give assistance to school committees —with the Minister’s approval—but we have to apply to spend 5/- on a load of gravel. We have not succeeded in getting any one of our applications agreed to, or a definite reply from the Minister. No finality has been reached. Mr H. S, M. Quigley: You can’t help the school committees, that is the point which has not been stressed. School committees are not encouraged to raise funds in their districts when they find they cannot receive help from the board. The Rev. F. L. Frost: I am surprised we have not been inundated with protests from school committees. Tt is up to the committees to help the board in getting this legislation washed out. Mr R. C. Wright said the point raised by Mr Coleman (that no reply had been receive's) was a good one. It would be advisable to press for a reply, as there were serious eases. Not a Fool On more than one occasion the Minister had been telephoned, said Mr Maddison. The money received from the Frempioyment Board was for construction, not school improvemems, and did not provide money to ass st in mainna ■■ ■ o' sc,-cols and school grounds. Id w*> ’i t common sense; not logical.

“Th</ seem to think I a.j a blinking foo 1 ” he co.it’i ued. “The pe s, not the Minister, deaf with ihis question. The Minister shn't’d not allow such legislation to go through without his scrutiny. I wrote to the four M.P.’s in this district—Messrs Jull, Barnard, Coleman and Campbell. Only one reply was received. Mr Barnard wrote saying 'that the. Minister of Education assured the Opposition that if this legislation were passed, it would not materially effect education boards in their administration.

“I am not a blinking fool, and I am quite sure it was some understrappers who framed the legislation, and not the Minister,” said Mr Maddison. “He did not realise the effect of the legisla-

tion. Why should he have allowed it to go through?” The Board’s Resolution The board is to make strong representations upon this subject to the Minister of Education. The board affirmed a motion by the chairman, the text of the motion being expressed in these terms:— “That the board inform the Minister of Education that the Department has appreciably failed to appreciate the position regarding the restriction on expenditure on school grounds. The board had at the passing of the restrictive legislation expended more than 5 (per cent of the maintenance grant for the present financial year, with the result that it has not been possible to, spend an additional penny on urgent |cases this year, nor will the extra grant improve the position this year. <n The board protests strongly against such an unwarranted restriction, and desires particularly to draw, attention to the bad condition of many of the playgrounds, owing to the excessively wet season, a condition which the board has been unable to assist in remedying. The board trusts that the Minister will recognise the urgency of this matter, and authorise any Urgent and essential -expenditures.”