CO129-603-2 Education Department- revised grant code 5-4-1948 - 6-1-1949 — Page 112

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In an informal discussion as to what form this Report should take, there seemed to be general agreement that it would be sufficient for the Chairman to communicate to you the terms of the above resolutions leaving it to each side in the disputed question of the Code to put their views before the Educational authorities if they think it necessary to add anything to the views which they have already given in earlier letters.

I think, however, that it will be well for me to explain the origin of the first of the sc resolutions since it bears on a matter that is at present receiving much publicity.

In the course of the discussion Fr. Bourke pointed out that the present Code had, for the first time in the Colony, enabled the Grant Schools to pay adequate salaries to their teachers. The present Code, he said, gave the teachers a security which they did not have before and could not have under a Block Grant System. What would the teachers say if they heard that the Grant Schools, by favouring a Block Grant instead of the present Code, deprived them of this security?

Mr. Noble said that the Ying Wah Schools, working as they did in poor areas, could not possibly charge fees suffi- ⚫ient to give their teachers the salaries which they get under the Code. The great advantage of the present Code was that it enabled schools such as his in poorer areas to offer salaries sufficient to attract competent local teachers. It might bo possible for schools in wealthy districts, or catering for children of wealthy parents, to charge fees sufficient to pay such salaries under a Block Grant system. But this would not be possible for schools catering for the less wealthy sections of the population.

After further discussion of this important matter, Mr. Goodban proposed the resolution as given and it was passed unanimously, thereby expressing the views of all the members that in any discussion of Code revision this matter should be taken as one of supreme importance.

I have the honour to remain,

Sir,

Yours faithfully

Sgd. Patrick Joy, S.J. Chairman of the Grant Schools

Council.