MEETING AT ADDINGTON.

Globe, Volume I, Issue 68, 19 August 1874, Page 4

MEETING AT ADDINGTON.

A meeting of householders, to consider the West Christchurch committee’s notice of motion for closing the Addington schools, was held last evening, in the Selwyn street school. There was a very small attendance. Several members of the West Christchurch committee were present.

The chair was taken by Mr T, Cutler, who called on Mr J. T. Brown, as the convener, to address the meeting. Mr Brown said he had taken upon himself to call the meeting in consequence of a notice of motion which had been made at a meeting of the West Christchurch school committee, at which he was present, as he thought the inhabitants should have an opportunity of considering that resolution, which was as follows :—“ That the schools in Addington be closed for the purpose of concentrating the children at the Lincoln road school on and after 22nd August ” Considerable discussion had taken place at the committee meeting as some of the members thought that an infant school was necessary in Addington in consequence of the distance of the present school from the Lincoln road school. He would give his own opinion of the matter, briefly. They had two schools at present in Addington, one attended by thirty-eight girls, and the other by thirty-three boys, making a total of seventy-one, all of them under the age of seven years, and if they were to close the schools there, it would, considering the distance the children would have to walk, be simply debarring them from attending school at all. [Hear, hear.] Sometime ago, the subject of building a side school at Addington for little children, was agitated, and the Board gave permission for the purchase of a site for that purpose, but owing to the difference of opinion in the committee, the matter was afterwards allowed to drop. He merely expressed as an individual the necessity that existed for a children’s school at Addington. The object of the new education scheme was to facilitate education in every possible way, and to close these schools would be to hinder it, and frustrate the object of the Ordinance. He must say that the Lincoln road school offered every facility for the proper training of children, and it was only on account of the distance of that school that he as a member of the Addington community had felt it to be his duty to bring this matter before the inhabitants. ) Applause.] Mr Styche moved the following resolution :—“ That in reference to the proposal of the educational committee to close the Addington schools, this meeting is of opinion that there should be a school in Addington for children under seven years of age —the distance to the Lincoln school being too great for little children, and it respectfully asks the committee to have such a school in Addington.” The motion was seconded by Mr Roskrudge.

Mr D. Nairn said that in his opinion it would be absurd to open a school in Addington when a school, of which they might all be proud, was within four stones throw distance. He knew of children in the district who were attending Colombo road school, and the people in Montreal street might with equal justice ask for a school. Some of the members of the committee held the opinion that as the district was spreading down towards the hills, a school might be required there; but if they wanted work done cheaply and well, let them have it done under one roof ; and besides, the very great expense of dotting down schools here and there, a central school with eflicient teachers would be more effective and answer all the purposes required. [Hear, hear,] With regard to the committee the papers would show that the Board received less annoyance from them than from the other committee, and that was one proof that they did their work well—[Hear, hear] —and they ought to be proud of two such workitig members as Mr Craig and Mr Harris. He did not think the Ordinance recognised children of so tender an age, and he would ask who would keep the school up — . [A voice : We’ll do it ourselves.] [Applause.] He would move as an amendment —“That this matter be left in the hands of the committee.

The amendment was not seconded, and fell to the ground. Mr J, A. Bird desired to speak shortly to the resolution. As a member of the West Christchurch committee expressing his own views, tie would say that he had voted for the resolution closing the schools, as he thought it advisable to concentrate the teaching power in the Lincoln Road school. [Hear, hear.] When the committee were first appointed, they attended as a deputation to Addington for the purchase of a site for an infant school, and found that it would entail a very unnecessary expense to establish one. It was ridiculous to talk of the distance to the Lincoln road school now the summer was coming on. If it were found undesirable to concentrate the children in that school, then it would be competent for them to have a side school ; but let it be tried first, and he did not think the inhabitants should be taxed until it was proved that this course would not answer.

Mr Stycho asked Mr Bird liovv it would be possible to send children to the Lincoln road school who lived a mile from the present school at Addington, and added that there were many who did so. He for one would protest against sending his young children so far.

Mr Bird said, in the absence of the statistics of the district, he could not say how many children lived that distance, but he considered (lie committee had done the best under the circumstances.

Mr W. Harris said he was surprised at the meagre attendance that evening, as ho had come a long way to attend the meeting, and more surprised to find a member of the committee convener of that meeting. [Hear, hear.] While, perhaps, agreeing with Mr Brown in some of his reasons, he did not think it right for any member to act contrary to the majority of the committee. Addington had, he thought, unadvisably put off the evil day. The time would no doubt come when they would have a school in the Windmill road. In the Addington school they had seventy-one small children, and eighty in the temporary High School, and that was his reason for advocating a school for the younger children, in which they could be as economically taught as in the High School; the only increased cost being the rate of the building. [Hear, hear.] If Addingtou got a district school other places should be served alike, but from returns which has been placed before the committee he saw that a much larger number of

small children were to be found in that portion of the district than in others, and as he was under the impression that the cost of teaching would not be increased, he felt tney ought to have a school there. [Applause.] He had opposed the site for a school in Addington as it was so near the Lincoln Road school, and while he remained a member of the committee he would never consent to the purchase of a site so near the High School as the one that had been contemplated, as if they were to puichase one in that position they would only be laughed at. . Mr Brown wished to remark on Mr Hams expression as to his being the promoter of the meeting. The object of deferring the resolution fora week was to give the people of Addington an opportunity of discussing it, and as this could only be done at a meeting, he considered that he ought to call one. He did not think the site which had been referred to was the best they could get, and would like it further along. He did not like to hear members of the committee mentioned by name, as they all had no doubt of the manner in which they attended to their duties. He felt it would be best to leave nersonalities alone.

The resolution was then put and carried, twelve hands being held up for, and one against it. A vote of thanks to the chairman terminated the proceedings.