HOKITIKA SCHOOL BOARD

Hokitika Guardian, 24 October 1930, Page 3

HOKITIKA SCHOOL BOARD

TRANSFER OF INCOME

MR, O’BRIEN’S ACTION. WELLINGTON, October 23. The matter of the Hokitika High School Board was discussed in the House, after an all-night sitting on the Finance Bill. The clause in the measure under which the Minister of Education is taking authority to transfer the income of the Hokitika High School Board to the Canterbury Education Board came on at 12.4.) p.m. yesterday.

The Member for Westland, Mr J. O’Brien, traced the history ol the Board. He suggested that the Minister of Education should drop the clause in question for this year, andshould conifer with the members of tlie Hokitika, High School Board, and also with representatives of the local bodies during the recess. Air O’Brien pointed out that the Hokitika High School Board liad carefully administered the reserves that were entrusted them insofar as that the Board had collected .quite a.sum of money. Most of this income had been spent on scholarships for the country children of the district, who would not otherwise have had the opportunity of obtaining -secondary .education" r !he Board, lie said, also pays two junior assistants ’for. the Commercial Classes at the High School, The Board had commitments, with the concurrence of the Auditor-General, to clear the reserves and freehold property from noxious weeds. If the Minister. l of Education took away the whole of the income from tlie Hokitika High School Board, it would seriously embarrass the members, who earnestly were endeavouring to do their best, and' who had done good worlc. Mr O’Brien held that the transferring of tlie Boards income -to the CanterOury Education Board would not he in the interest of the district. The Canterbury Education Board’s territory was too large now. The Canterbury Board could not have the local understanding and sympathy that were necessary for the good administration of the reserves that they vested in the Hokitika High School Board.

Mr O’Brien pressed the Minister to drop the clause for this year, but, since tlie Minister, seemed determined to put the Clause through, Afr O’Brien asked that he would not use the powers that were conferred on him by the clause until after he had visited the Hokitika District and had conferred with the Board members

The Alinister, Hon. H. Atmore, said that tlie member for Westland had interviewed him several Janies about the clause, and also the Leader of the Opposition. The facts as to constitution oif the Hokitika High School Board were as had been set out by the Alember for Westland. The Hokitika Board had been in existence for 47 or 48 years. AH of thp income that had been collected by the Board had been expended in Hokitika. Air Atmore said he would willingly give an assurance that-the whole of the income would still he spent in, Hokitika, and that nothing unfair would be done to the boys and girls of the district. He hoped to visit Hokitika at an early date and to meet the members of the High School Board.