INDUSTRIAL SCHOOLS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2084, 20 May 1907, Page 2

INDUSTRIAL SCHOOLS.

COLLECTING THE PAYMENTS, Press Association.

WELLINGTON', last night. In the .course of an interview on the fact that for some time past the Magistrates in different parts of the colony liaveMieeii commenting on the system adopted~by the Education Department in collecting moneys from ,parent? whoso -children have' been committed to Industrial Schools, the Minister for Education, the Hon. G. Fowlds, said; —“The position is one of considerable: difficulty, xts a matter of foot there are over COO orders in operation against parents and very few of them are regularly satisfied. If a statement of arrears were issued from the Department every three weeks we would have to send out to the police over 10,000 every year. This would pioan that a staff of clerks would bo required and the police force would have to be increased largely all over the country especially in tlie larger towns. It should be borne in mind that not only (Ti> parents have to be bunted up, but reports liave to be written respecting each case by the police office who lias the collection of the money in hand. Some four years ago the work of collection, winch had previously been in the hands of the managers of the schools, was taken over’ by the Department with very satisfactory’ results. During that time the recoveries increased from £1,300 tp £3,500 per annum. The time of an officer of the Department is given entirely to this work and each case is dealt with upon its merits.”