ASHBURTON PARENTS PROPOSE STRIKE

Chronicle (Levin), 17 July 1946, Page 8

ASHBURTON PARENTS PROPOSE STRIKE

ASHBURTON, July 1(5. A tlireat that unless a written guarantee was received from ihe Canter bury Education Board by August 1 that uew school buildings would he cotunienced by October 1, the pupils would be kept at home from the beginning of next niontli was niado in tlie forin of a niotion carried at a lueeting of householders and parents of the Ashburton Ivast district last evening. The attendanee approached the 100 inark. Attenipts by H r. S.. Sinith, a representative of the Education Board, t« have the date extended to November ^ were heavily defeated amid a lively discussion as to whcthor or not the ehairman (.Mr. II. Paterson) had elosed tlie nieeting. After chiiining that he had not teiniinnted thc nieeting, Mr. Paterson retraeted the statenient and tlie ameiidmeul to eover JM r. Smith's suggestiou lapsed.

A "pig-sly, " a "disgraco to any school conimittee or Education Board," and "a dingy, dirty, unfuvourable atmosphere for children" were some of the terms used by speakers who described the present school. The. meeling had been called because tlie school coinnii! tee fclt that witliouj the assistance of householders it couhl go nr. further. After the motion Ihreatcning action was cjirried a siib-conimit ( ee was set up to consider the mutter of keejiing Ihe children from the school if no reply was received within the st i]iu):ited time.