EDUCATION BOARDS.

Waikato Times, Volume 97, Issue 15273, 25 June 1923, Page 5

EDUCATION BOARDS.

APPORTIONMENT OF SEATS. TOWNS UNDULY FAVOURED. By Telegraph.—Press Association. WELLINGTON, Saturday. The Director of Education, Mr J. Caughfey, brought before the Council of Education the question of apportionment of seats on the Education Boards as between town and country districts. He moved: "That the Council of Education is strongly of opinion that the present method of apportioning seats on Education Boards is quite inequitable and undemocratic. As the result of the working of the present Act, urban areas - proflt largely in representation at the expense of the country districts. For instance, in one urban area a population of 6000 has the same representation on the Board as a large country district of 30,000. Anomalies in other districts are equally obvious and indefensible, and in the opinion of the Council, representation so disproportionate and unfair to the country districts calls for the attention of Parliament. The Council desires therefore to urge again upon the Government, as it did in 1916, the necessity of an amendment to the law which will give justice to districts. Further, it should be noted that in ■Parliamentary elections the legislature has provided for a country quota, which gives 28 per cent advantage to the country vote in representation, whereas under the present system of Education Board elections a very heavy quota is given in favour of a town. For instance there are cases where an urban elector has an electoral advantage of 300 per cent over a country elector. If any special portion of an educational district is to have representation advantage, the Council is of opinion that the principle as obtaining in general elections should be invoked." ,

Mr Caughley added that the Department was quite prepared- to wait until the Boards had thoroughly considered the matter and forwarded their suggestion to the Department. The motion was agreed to.