§ 23. Captain HEILGERSasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education if he will state the number of small school amalgamations that took place in 1930 and 1931, respectively; and whether, in the interests of economy, he will urge local authorities to proceed as quickly as possible with all contemplated amalgamations of elementary schools?
§ Mr. RAMSBOTHAMThe number of separate departments of public elementary schools which were discontinued as a result of amalgamation or of the transfer of children to other schools was 293 in 1930 and 367 in 1931. These figures show that local education authorities are alive to the opportunity of reducing their expenditure by this means, but the possibility of further economy in this direction is now being explored by the Board.