§ MR. A. H. SMITH (Christchurch)I beg to ask the Vice President of the Committee of Council on Education whether there is any precedent for the refusal of the payment of the grant to the managers of any elementary school upon demands made for improvements some weeks after the conclusion of the school year during which the said grant was earned; whether he is aware that the grant due to the managers of the Christ-church National School, for the school year ending 30th September, 1893, has been suspended upon demands made for improvements on 30th October, 1893; and whether he will make further inquiries into this case?
§ MR. ACLANDThere is ample precedent, over a series of years for such suspension of payment of grant. I understand, however, that the managers are carefully considering the communication of the Department, and I have directed that the grant shall be paid at once.