ACTION RESENTED

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 57, Issue 249, 2 August 1937, Page 6

ACTION RESENTED

LETTER FROM MR HERRING. WORK ON HIGH SCHOOL FARM. COMMENT AT BOARD MEETING. Resentment at the action of Mr H. E. Herring, M.P., in sending a letter to the Minister for Education (the Hon. P. Fraser) setting out his opinion that the Ashburton High School farm was not being used to best advantage by pupils of the Ashburton Technical High School and that the facilities at the Technical School were not being taken up fully by pupils of the High School, was expressed at the meeting of the High School Board this morning. The question arose when a letter was received from the Headmaster (Mr E. A. Cockroft) who had received it from the' Minister. It was pointed out that the Board had for years offered the use of its farm to the Technical High School and that lately there had been a much closer co-operation between the schools in this regard. The Minister stated that he had received a communication from Mr Herring to the effect that the High Schflol farm was not being fully utilised by pupils of the Technical High School, and that the engineering facilities at the Technical School were not being taken up by the High School pupils as they should. The Minister added that when lie paid his visit to the school farm some months ago in regard to the granting of a sum of money to erect buildings on the farm, he had expressed the hope that the farm would be used to give sound, practical instruction to the young people of the County, and that other schools should use the farm, especially the Technical School. He said he would be glad, if the headmaster would make a report to him on the whole matter with a view to the incorporation of instruction for boys of both schools. He added, that he had sent a similar letter to the principal of the Technical School. “Over-reachied Himself.” Mr J. W. Bowden (acting chairman) considered that the letter should have been sent to the Board, and not to the Headmaster. The Board should inform the Minister that it had given ample opportunity to the Technical School pupils to make use of the farm. ‘lt seems to me,” he said, “that Mr Herring is somewhat over-reaching himself in this matter. He has been told what is being done in regard to the farm and he knows what the position is.” Mr W. T. Lill: They will find that this school has been sympathetic to the Technical School all along. Mr W. H. Woods: We should let the Minister know what has been done in regard to co-operation between the two schools. Mr Bowden: When I was chairman I made it a point that it should be known that our farm was always open to the Technical School hoys. We know that the facilities of the Technical School are open to our boys, but those who wish to make the full use of them go to that school. Mr Woods moved, and Mr Lill seconded, that the chairman (Dr. G. I. Miller) and the headmaster should draw up a letter in reply to the Minister’s letter. ■' v Instruction on Farms. Mr J. Brown: The letter has certainly had the effect of drawing attention to the fact that the farm is available to the boys of the County and not to the boys of this school alone. It should bo used by pupils of both schools and I think the letter has done good. If courses can be arranged to include both schools that should be done right away. We know that the Technical School is going to other farms with its boys, and I learned the other day that it has been arranged with one farmer that instruction should he given on his farm every three weeks. That should not be where there is ready for use a farm that is owned by the Department of Education. Mr Bowden: It is owned by the High School Board.

Mr Brown: Well, you are only holding as trustee for the others. H'e added that the farm did not justify its existence for the High School alone.

Mr Bowden: They have known all along that the farm was open to them for their pupils. Mr Brown: But they have not been using it.

Mr Bowden: Well, I ask you, whose fault is that?

Mr Brown: I’m not saying whose fault it is. What I contend is that the two schools should run together. Mr Bowden: But they are not running together. Schools Drifting Apart. Mr Brown: That brings up the question of amalgamation again. It shows that the schools are drifting apart again. Mr Woods: We want to make it quite clear to the Minister that we made the farm available to the Technical School pupils long before this letter came in. If there Is a private farm available for instruction for the High School boys it should be used in the same manner that the Technical School is doing. I am not prepared to let the credit for wliat has been done go to anyone outside the board. Mr F Frampton: Wo all know the view of the board, and there is some reason, perhaps,' why this letter should have been sent to the headmaster. \Ve know that the opposition that has been the stumbling block to our schemes has come from the headmasters of both schools in the past. But kis different n °Mv EH. Orr: It looks as if the Minister thinks the headmasters are not seeing to it that full use is being made of the farm by both schools. Mr Bowclen: Well, he has been misinformed. „ _ . . • i The secretary (Mr G. V. Furby) said he had been in touch with the 1 nncipal of the Technical High School, who liad stated that he told Mr Herring of what was being done under the new aiiangements, and Mr Herring had said that

that was not enough and that he would communicate with the Minister about it. Mr Bowden: Who is Mr Herring to say what use we should make of the farm? Who is he to dictate to us? Mr Frampton: There are lots of things we could say, but this meeting is not the place to say them, Mr Chairman. Mr Bowden: We know that the headmasters are co-operating in the work. Mr Woods: Whatever the local member feels about the way the farm is being used, I am sure the Minister does not feel that way. • Mr Bowden: What I don’t like about it is the undercurrent that the board is not doing its""*duty, that there is some slackness on its part. The motion was carried, and it was agreed to send to the Minister a list of the dates on which the board had made its offers regarding the use of the farm to the Technical High School Board.