WELLINGTON EDUCATION BOARD.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4553, 23 October 1875, Page 3

WELLINGTON EDUCATION BOARD.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE NEW ZEALAND TIMES. Sir.—lt is gratifying to learn that when the new Education Board of the province entered upon the duties of office the members found their revenue in so flourishing a condition as warranted them in making a considerable addition to the salary of the This overworked gentleman appears to be in receipt of about £4OO per annum from the Board, besides other etceteras in connection with the College, I suopos© this is understood in education parlance as half-time service. ~ , It is also pleasing to hear that the Board have also made provision to meet the expenses of members coming from the country districts, so that we may now expect to have the attendance of those gentlemen more regular, and the wants of their constituents more fully considered. As a settler residing on the upper plain of Masterton for some years, I have been anxiously waiting since the centralising Education Act of 1871 came into force to see what equivalent the Board would give to the rati payers of this district for all the school requisites, such as maps, desks, book-closet, store, and outbuildings handed over to the Board in that memorable year, free of any expense, besides the nse of our building free of rent, which the settlers erected for religious uses and a Sundayschool by their own money. In room of receiving any thing for these benefits from tbo Board, wo find, on the other side of the account, our building deteriorated

and our fences the cround: aud while other districts are receiving SLfiMn the way of proper buildings, we, owing to the apathy of our previous members, aro left out in th lt C is a now to bo hoped that the settlers will raise their voices against this unfair treatment, and that the trustees of the property will cither close the building or compel the Board to pay a sufficient rental in order to keep the premises in good repair. It may be said that latterly the attendance of the children is small, and I don’t wonder if such is the case, as parents, in duty bound, look after the health and comfort of their offspring. A settler of tills plain conveyed to trustees several years ago five acres of land upon the main road as a site for a schoolhouse and residence, aud the member of the district was aware of this, yet no action has been taken by the Board to possess themselves of this property, because the settlers have been too generous in allowing the Board to occupy and destroy their property, Asirapecuniosity cannot now apparently be pleaded as a justifiable reason for neglect. It is to oe hoped that our new member will table a resolution so, as to test the feelings of the Board as to the desirability of erecting suitable buildings for a school and residence in this district, —I am, &c. Ratepayer.