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Hokitika Guardian, 30 May 1922, Page 2

Ai’THlt his visit of inspection to tic building used ;is u temporary school nfc Kanieii. there could he no doubt about. t!u* ultimate decision to rebuild. Where the school is being carried on now is a disgrace to the nuthorities eonceined. It is certain such a condition of affairs would not he tolerated anywhere else without a great outcry. The building apart from being dilapidated, must h< draughty and unpleasant to work in. There are broken windows, covered by sacking or odd pieces of tin ! The flooring is open in places, while below there were pools of water till a working bee put in a drain, .'liven the shelter erected was built with borrowed material! When it is given out that the education system is costing three millions and a half, it would not he possible for nnv Minister with a conscience to view con-

ditions at Knnieri, and say £1,500 could not be found fo place the scholars in human conditions. As to the future,

the Minister was told that the district >yas thriving, and that the populat'd!'!

would increase. This appears to he as-

smed. Knnieri will certainly paitxi-

l»ate in the general advancement Westland is to enjoy in the immediate future. Sawmilling is its immediate industry, and that is being estahlislie 1 on linos which will last for half a century or more at Knnieri. But its mining days are not over. With ample electric power, and the good water supply which can he brought in, the auriferous liars about the township will vet he wotked to advantage. All tbe time Knnieri will be a centre for the dairying that is developing in that circuit and the place ealinot i>o back: The .Minister will lu* well advised to c Kanieri a good school, and lo build for tile future as well a-s the present. Whether it will he mere profitable for the Hokitika S bool Committee to lose the return it receives from the present High School Hoard grant, or to use the capital sum in equipping a hostel for hoys, will no doubt he a matter for discussion and some divided opinion. The sum received is devoted towards

an inciease in the salary of the secondary master which the Minister said on Saturday was on a very liberal scale in any ease. It has to he remembered, however that the ad lition was made at. a time when the secondary master was not so well paid, and when the Committee was particularly anxious to do justice to a gentleman w ho was filling the position With special distinction. In those circumstances the gram supplement the salary of the tc.oliv was iiiilis] en-'i’ !c. Whether it is so ilow if Air I'al'i's statement nb mi the well paid grade is correct, is not with ill oi.r knowledge. Hut we fed. that if there is the demand for the hostel it should b? satisfied, l'ilr the reason that every chance should be giveli ta the country i id ro get, the benefit of higher eduction thin he can receive in tile sm I country school. It i. all essential for that, fact alone, li is niiclher matter

whether the hostel cii he conducted ] rolitahly. 'I hat aspect requires tii be g-ine into very closely, mill the School ( ominittec v Inch w iii tic responsible for tile management. should look into tli'c question before the legislation goes through and a new anil perhaps onerous duty is laid updi them. The financial nspccl must first he thrashed out before a decision can he reached as to the wisl dom.of the contemplated cluing; l which the Minister evidently favoured.