TE ARO SCHOOL

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2161, 29 May 1914, Page 9

TE ARO SCHOOL

A REPLY TO MR. E, LEE. The following letter regarding the controversy over the condition of the Te Aro School has been forwarded to Mr. G. L. Stewart (secretary of tho Wellington Education Board) by Mr. W. H. Hampton (chairman of the- Tβ Aro School Committee):— . "In reference to certain remarks made bv Mr. Lee in his retiring address to the board having reference to Te Aro Sohool, I am desirous of knowing if ho was correctly reported in tho daily papers. If so, your board seems to bo incorrectly informed as to what occurred .at the meeting of householders referred to. There were no wild or. rash electioneering speeches made. The first reference to tho matter complained of was in tho report of the Mitchelltown School Committee to' the effect that 'on account of its age. location, and style, it (To Aro School) is out of date as a school building, and in tho interests of tho health of the children and sanitation generally should be pulled down.' This position my committee is prepared to support. The second reference was the support of this statement by a medical practitioner, and its final endorsement by the ex-caretaker and his wife. No other speeches were made haying any reference to either the cleanliness or sanitation of To Aro School; As for anything wild or' reckless in tho above quotation, we would be pleased if your board would obtain a report from tho Government Health Department as to its truthfulness or otherwise, and we have no hesitation in saying that tho statement set out in the Mitchellown report would bo emphasised by, the report of any qualified medical, officer appointed to make such investigation. As Mr. Lee's statement has obtained such wide publicity through tho daily newspapers, copies of this will he handed to tho Press.—l am, etc., (Signed) w- H, Hampton."