The Wanganui Chronicle AND Patea-Rangitikei Advertiser. "NULLA DIES SINE LINEA." THURSDAY, JUNE 1, 1899. WANGANUI EDUCATION DISTRICT.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XLIII, Issue 15000, 1 June 1899, Page 2

The Wanganui Chronicle AND Patea-Rangitikei Advertiser. "NULLA DIES SINE LINEA." THURSDAY, JUNE 1, 1899. WANGANUI EDUCATION DISTRICT.

The report of the chairman of the Wanganui Education Board for the year ending 31st March last, .which has just been published, and of which we have received a copy, shows the Board to be very greatly hampered by lack of fundß for meeting the educational necessities arising out of the extension of settlement in newly opened districts. It has been, the practice or -the Board in the past to strive to maintain a strong finance, and not to. incur liabilities beyond the amount it might reasonably expect to receive in the shape of revenue during ths year. Its policy appears now to be changed, or the pressure that has been brought to bear upon it for new schools and residences has forced its hand, with the result that io is now in anything but a sounu condition financially. It is true tbat the general account shows a nett credit balance, after allowing for liabilities, of £1553 10s 6d, and the building account a credit balance of £3718 3s 6d— but of this sum the chairman says that £1658 4s is money specially granted by the department for schools in newly settled districts which have yet to be built, leaving a nett available balance of £2059 19s 6d. The report goes on to say :— "But the return of assets and liabilities shows the following liabilities : balance of amount due under contracts let, £2564 8s 8d; due on account of tenders ready and about to be advertised (since let) £2500.; deposits on contracts, £142 2s 6d; balance required for Feilding school over and above the ,£9OO insurance, £1080, making a total of £6276 lis 2d, thus leaving a balance of liabilities over assets of r £4216 lis Bd." The fact is that the Board has never received from the Government anything . like sufficient money to meet the . urgent demands made upon it for school buildings - and residences in newly setsettled districts. Indeed, it would hay *. been obliged to resist many_ urgents demands had it not dipped pretty deeply into a fund granted for quite other purposes. The Board has saved out of the general fund -the fund out of which teachers' salaries, payment to committees,' and general expenses are defrayed— and out of such savings has been able very largely to augment the special grants made by the Government for building purposes. It is'under iio odligation to make savings out of the' general fund for building purposes, and would be quite justified in declining every application for n*w school buildings until the Government bas first supplied the necessary money for the purpose. The Board has, however, ] risked its financial solvency by respondig j to the demands of back settlers for schools for their children, and . has got itself into ' deep water. In addition . to this pressure through want of funds,< it is now met with the knowledge that it will not be able in future to make savings 'out of the general ' fund as done in the past: The number of . small -schools has steadily increased! until there' are 'now 85— outof a^total-of 132 — : with an- average attendance of under 50 pupils, and all these schools are a continual drain upon the Board's funds, as they do not pay their way, costing-jtnore per head than the amouut received by. the Board from the Government. It is' perfectly clear that/ unless th 3 Government- give the Board mom adequate assistance for; building.purposes in the future, many of the.new.country districts will' have ; to" go without; schools'! The following paragraph anent the Feilding School difficulty explains the Boards position in the matter ;— The Feilding School was, 'unfortunately-," burnt down in December, and the pupils are how being taught in three different, hired buildings/ at a great inconvenience". The old building, which had been added;.tb considerably from time to time during 'the past 21" years, and was very unsuitable for so large a school, was valued at £900 for insurance. According to the form of return made to the department the valuation was an estimate of the building as it stood, and. not the cost of a new one. A wooden building depreciates from year to yeai, and to enter .the value. of a new building upon a return requiring the value of an old one would be to make a false return. It is therefore manifestly impossible to erect a new build-, ing upon the insurance valuaticn of an old" one. It is deemed necessary to 'point out ■these matters because the Board is asked from time to time to make n return ofthe estimated value, and not the cost, of its old buildings, as well as the new Dnes.'