The Pamphlet Collection of Sir Robert Stout: Volume 83
The Cost of Primary Education to the Revenue of New Zealand
The Cost of Primary Education to the Revenue of New Zealand.
Extracts from Education Reports showing the loss sustained by remitting fees, the excessive expenditure upon school buildings, and the extravagant grants of public money in support of the present system. Can the country afford it?
"The comparatively large sum of £45,944 9s. 4d. was received by the Education Boards, in 1877, from local sources, such as school fees, capitation rates, arrears of household and other rates, &c.; but all or nearly all such sources of revenue have been extinguished by the Act of 1877, and the local receipts were consequently reduced last year to £10,650, 16s. Id., only about one- half of this amount can be regarded strictly as revenue, the remainder being made up of deposits, refunds, &c. The grants from Government during the past year show an increase of £113,718 3s. 7d. over those of 1877, owing to the maintenance of the public schools being now almost wholly thrown upon the Colonial revenue, and to the large attendance at the schools. The special vote for school buildings has also increased from £ 50,000 to £100,000."
[N.B.—Districts ought to be rated to supply their own school buildings. They are essentially for the use of the locality in which they exist. Economy would be much more practised when the district was rated for the buildings than can be the case where the expenditure for buildings is thrown upon the Colonial revenue. The revenue will soon be unable to bear the burden, since the larger attendance at schools of some 700 more children caused an increased expenditure in one year upon school buildings of £50,000].
"Income and Expenditure of Education Boards
.—In addition to the statutory grant of 15s. per annum for every child in average daily attendance at the public schools, the General Assembly made provision for the following purposes :—
And the question arises, can we afford so much out of the State. Treasury for Educational luxuries?
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Report 1880.— Table E.—Summary of Boards Income.
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Return showing, for each Provincial District of New Zealand, the number of Roman Catholic Schools and scholars attending them, in the month of December, 1879.
Also, perhaps, the Nelson Roman Catholic Orphanage having about 17 males and 5 females, total 22.