Manawatu Herald SATURDAY, JUNE 15, 1918. HEALTH AND EDUCATION.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XL, Issue 1840, 15 June 1918, Page 2

Manawatu Herald SATURDAY, JUNE 15, 1918. HEALTH AND EDUCATION.

A LENGTHY discussion took placo at the District Hospital Board meeting on Thursday upon a statement! received from the Teachers’ Institute re the state of schools in the district. Structural defects, crowded class-rooms, insanitary outhouses, cramped play-grounds, want of paint, etc., etc., was referred to, also that the capitation grant was insufficient to meet the requirements of Committees in keeping the schools in a sanitary condition. The Board asked the Institute to supply confidential and specific information, in order that the health officer could inspect and report, insofar as the Health Department was concerned. The Hospital Board is as anxious as the Teachers’ Institute to safeguard the health of the children, but it must be remembered that school committees and the Education Board have their duties to perform with the Education Act and Regulations to guide them. If the state of things disclosed in the report submitted to the Hospital Board is true, then committees and Board have been very remiss, and the sooner they are aroused to a sense of their responsibilities the better. The trouble is that the Wanganui Board is “ a one man Board.” Other than Mr Pirani, there isn’t a member with sufficient initiative to fight his way out of a paper bag. Practically the whole business of the Board is conducted by the Chairman, /Secretary, and Chief Inspector. Some new'blood is wanted on the Board —men who .have the welfare of education at heart, and with sufficient courage to lift things out of the ruck and to force the hand of the Minister and Depart-

menl. An opportunity will lie nff'orded Committees shortly to elect; new Board members, ami we hope « change for (lie better will tube place.