KOMATA NORTH SCHOOL.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIX, Issue 5338, 12 October 1928, Page 2

KOMATA NORTH SCHOOL.

NEW BUILDING OPENED. MODERN STRUCTURE PROVIDED. Tlie new sJhool at Komata Noith was; qffiqially opened on Wednesday afternoop by Mr. A- Burnsi, chairman of the Auckland Educatiar Board. Owing to the very wet weather there was only a small attendance oil parents and children. The building, which is situated near tlhe public hall, was; completed at the end of last month, and i- largo enough to accommodate abojut forty scholars. Mr G. Berry, chairman of the local committee, who presided, mentioned that since 1916 school had been in the public hall, aud it was largely due to the work of the late chairman, Mr N. C. Baildqn, that a proper school building had?been secured. Mr Burns said that the district Wad waited a very long time for its school, a j the Education Board had so many demands for buildings. Where a, hall was convenient it had to be utilised until time proved that a, permanent building w,a;s warranted. Many country districts had to put up with; a hall, but it was better to have even a hall than tent-5, as had to be used,in, some places. Komata North now had a sc,hod of the latest type, with cross ventiliatiop which, in opinion, was even better than .the open-air type now so much advocated. The district was, to be congratulated on its school. He* urged that the’-children be sent to school regularly. Parents might not be able to leave .their children much by way of worldly possessions, but all parents could fit their childrep fcir the battle'of life by seeing that they received a good education. It was the heritage of every child in New Zealand to obtain the best of education. It was a splendid thing to see so many boys, and e.irls nia.triciilat>ng. The cost of education to ithe St2,te wa : a big sum, but the cost did not matter if results wejre being obtained, and results were being obtained, for the standard of education in New Zealand was as high as in any other part of the; world. It had been easy to,make comparisons, with children who come to; New Zealand after attending ' a school inj some ojther country. Concluding, Mr Burns, pointed o.ut that the school had fine grounds, but if the settlers co-operated and arranged working bee's, much improvement could be made. The school should be the social centre, and the people qf a district should be encouraged to take a pride in their school. The building could be used' by .the people with the sanction of the school committee, the only stipulation being that the building was to be injured if used by the public, : Mr Burns said he ,was pleased to see Mr A. M. Samuel preseii|t, as he had had many dealings with him on behalf of schools in the electorate, and his requests were always reason-] able ones. Mr A- M. Sapiuel thanked the chairman qf the Education; Board for his kindly reference to him, and stated that he had always been treated cour-t < teously by Mr Burns anld his staff. The Education Board had many calls on its funds, but representations by him had always received careful consideration. Education Boards had a certain amount of money voted them by the Government, and they had to administer, it to the best advantage/ In the year 1911-12 the cost of education ,tq the State was £1,226,328, while in, 1928 it had risOp to £3,756,300. Expressed in terms of cost per head of' population, it was £1 Is; sdi in 1911-12 and ,£2 12s Id in 1928. He; trusted that the day was a long way qff when education boards would be abolished) ’’ and the control of education centraH ised in, Wellington. The speaker congratulated the district on now having; an school, and supported Mr. Burns’ remarks with reference to the care apd work on the ground, and also the desirability qf every child securing the best education possible, so as to be fit for the battle o>f life. On behalf of the people of the district Mr Samuel thanked Mr. Burns for coming, all the wayfrefcn Auckland, for the specific purpose of opening .the school. .. / After the children had suing theschool song and cheeirs had been given fc ; r Mr Burns .apd the Education Board the school was declared open by Mr Burn?, for the purpose of edu-t c,ation. In doing 'so Mr Burns expressed regret that, the state of .the ‘ weather, had necessitated the pro/ cedure being reversed, in that, the people had been admitted to the building before it was officially opened, anid that it 'had 3jso 'so seriously affec|ted the atendance of parents-and children. , The function being concluded, a ru-h was made between shopvers for the Public, Hall,.where afternoon tea was, served.

To mark the; occaslqn a socia.l function was held in the hajl in thei evening,, several interesting items being given by .the schcbl children.