Distribution of the Funds for Education.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume III, Issue 444, 22 April 1890, Page 2

Distribution of the Funds for Education.

NAPIER’S SAY IN THE MATTER.

Judging by an article in Thursday’s issue o the Hawke’s B>y Herald, there is a desire to coolly take possession of the lion’s share of the funds to be set apart by the Education Board for building purposes. The Herald writes as follows on the subject:— We should be very sorry indeed to raise a cry of town against country in educational matters, for we recognise to its legitimate limit that the strong should assist the weak, and that the larger schools, which can be more economically managed in proportion to the attendance, must give up some of the capitation they earn to keep open small | schools. But, we apprehend, there is a limit beyond which the larger schools should not ba asked to sacrifice themselves, and if claims of Napier are to be quitely ignored shall not be without a protest, for which weM propose to give full and sufficient reason]The Napier main and infant schools provide accommodation tor only 700 children. The average attendance, on which capitation ia paid, was in the December quarter 870, and it is considerably larger now. But the actual attendance is often much greater than that, the average being reduced by wet weather and other circumstances. The number on the roll was last quarter 1080, and accommodation is required for about 950, or tor 250 more than are provided for in the schools. The difficulty has been temporarily met by hiring a building near the infant school, but we have the authority ot the Inspector tor saying that the place is quite unsuitable Now let us "glance at the special claims of Napier to consideration. Though larger schools can be more economically worked than small onea, there is not a proportionate saving in providing buildings. Roughly, one fifth of the school attendance is in the Napier committee’s district—we exclude the Spit. The town is therefore entitled to one-fifth of the building vote, but as a matter of fact not moie than half that amount has been expended here since the Board came into existence. Then looking into the fact that the building fund has been from time to time supplemented from the general fund, Napier has a claim to special consideration. At the present time the Board receives for the Napier main and infant schools, on a capitation basis, J 83264, while the total annual expenditure on these schools is £2225, so that over £lOOO a year is contributed by them to support country schools, and to provide a surplus from which funds can be spent on buildings. For the Hastings street school the Board receives £570, and expends £lO5, so that in round numbers Napier sacrifices £l2OO a year. Now if it were not for that sacrifice the Board would have no surplus on the general account which it could devote to buildinga. Surely, then, when part of that surplus is diverted to provide buildings Napier has a special claim to consideration at the hands of the Board. Gisborne is similarly circumstanced, though in a less degree, the Board receiving £2160 on account of the attendance there, while only £1714 is exnended. Additional accommodation will soon be required there, as provision is made for only 550 children, while average attendance in the December quarter was 576, the number on the roll 636. Gisborne’s case is not, however, so urgent as that of Napier, and the question of an addition there could well stand over for another year. Turning to the country schools we find, according to the Board’s last annual report, that the only school in Cook County which is in need of immediate enlargement is Patu-

tahi, and £230 would do what is necessary there. At Makanri there is a small building owned by the schoolmaster, which the Board has undertaken to purchase, but £65 would buy it and line it. In Hawke's Bay County the accommodation at all schools is sufficient for present requirements, except at Meanee, and even there there is no great or pressing urgency. Moreover, every school in that county has a teacher's residence, while none has been provided in Napier. In Patangata County no new schools or enlargements are required. In Waipawa County there is the worst case in the education district. That ii at Matamau, where, some time ago, we recorded the fact that the Inspector had to stand on a desk while examining the school, because there was not room for him on the floor. About £lBO is required for a suitable building there. Additions are also needed at Ashley-Clinton, Kameroa, and Haretaunga, which it is estimated will cost £350. All over the district schools require repairs and painting. and £3OO may be allowed for that. We have thus a total of about £l2OO, . leaving a little margin above the figures! quoted above. There would be thus £3OO out ■ of the £l5OO left for Napier. At the last meeting ot the Board the Inspector stated that £lOOO is required to provide full accommodation in the town. If we cannot get a full loaf, however, we most be oon. tent with halt a one. But £3OO will not provide even half a loaf, and even it it were expended here it would simply result in a piece of patchwork, next year there would have to be more expenditure, and in the end there would be] more money spent, and with less satisfactory results, than if a fair job were made of the work at once. We believe that £6OO might be found sufficient, but less than that would be all but useless. Now, if the Board consented to raise and spend £2OOO instead ot £l5OO, that sum could be spared to Napier, and there would be £2OO left to extend the Gisborne school. That would at once place this education district in a position it has never occupied, in providing sufficient accommodation for the attendance in both town and country. It would not do all that is wanted, for residences are required to many schools, but it would provide sufficient teaching accommodation, and that must be regarded as the first duty of the Board. There ia another reason why we urge the claims of Napier. Men who look ahead mostly agree that in the' near future the responsibility of providing school buildings will be thrown on the local bodies. Now, with such a probability—tor it ie more than a poasibility—looming ahead, Napier has a right to ask to be put on the same tooting as (the country schools. It has for twelve years (past largely helped to support those schools out of the eurploi earnings ot the town schools, and surely a demand to be equally treated in the matter ot accommodation is a very moderate one indeed. We say nothing abont teachers’ residences, but we do ask the Board to provide school accommodation sufficient to meet present requirements, so that the town, which has for years consented uncomplainingly to ba milked for the benefit of the country, shall not ba left in the lurch if Parliament throws the duty of providing and maintaining eohool buildings on the local rating bodiel.