EDUCATION REPORT

Manawatu Herald, Volume LI, Issue 4495, 23 August 1930, Page 4

EDUCATION REPORT

WANGANUI BOARD’S STAND. “It leaves the matter open to a very sinister interpretation,” said Mr. W. H. Oram, at the meeting of the Wanganui Board of Education on Wednesday, commenting on the difficulty experienced by members in obtaining copies of the Parliamentary Recess Committee’s report embodying drastic amendments to the administration of the education in the Dominion. “It is like digging for gold to get one of these reports,” he said. “Every board member in New Zealand should bo supplied with a copy. As it is I have just had a look at the first part and will probably never see the second.” It is manifestly unfair that even members of Parliament can’t have them,” Mr. .T. K. Hornblow added, "if they are going' to interfere with the democratic methods of education and make a departmental business of them, then the sooner we get together and erase some of ihe things in this report the better. There are satements in it which every hoard in New Zealand should lake exception to, especially the remarks of Air. Strong.” Continuing, Air. Hornblow referred to the fact that- the Commission taking evidence on education, lrad not seen lit to come to

Wanganui, the headquarters of a J

hoard and a recognised centre of education.

The chairman (Air. W. A. Collins) : They went to Palmerston and Feilding.

Air. Iloriihlow (quoting from the instructions to the (Commission) : “At such times and at such places as they think fit.” Apparently, they did not- think fit to come to Wanganui.

Air. W. Adams (holding a copy of the board’s order paper) : How much of this will take up the attention of the new hoard? What about our architect and staff? The school committees will have full power over buildings.

The chairman: He will bo absorbed somewhere. Air. ' Blaekie, the senior inspector, as the highest departmental officer, will be in charge in this district. Air. Adams: And with all due deference to Air. Blaekie lie will he the superintendent of education in Wanganui. I don’t know who that, will he in Palmerston North. It was decided that the board convene a meeting of representatives of school committees, secondary and high school hoards, to deal with the two phases of 1 he report and make such recommendations thereon as may he thought fit. Owing to tile dearth of copies ol the report it is impossible, to frame

an estimate of the feeling the proposals have created in Wanganui. II was very evident at Wednesday’s hoard meeting, however, that spirited opposition will appear to any move to “departmentalise” control of education, and rob existing hoards of their powers. Feeling also ran high against the commission’s failure to visit this centre when taking evidence and it. is certain that caustic comment will be levelled at the Department in not making available more copies of the report in time to allow its proposals to he considered. The board decided to hold a special meeting in a fortnight’s time and, following that, call a conference of those interested to make a comprehensive survey of the proposals. —Chronicle.