TUAKAU.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 1, Issue 37, 22 October 1912, Page 2

TUAKAU.

The School Meeting. A moetiug of householders of the Tuakau and Ilarrisville School districts was hoM in th' l Public I Tall on Thursday evening list to discuss tlio piopoed central school in Tuakau, there being a very largo attendance. From the outset the indications were that the me ting would be stormy. The meeting having been called by the Progressive League tliev uatur.illy reserved to themselves the right to appoint a chairman and after attempts made by several to appoint an outsider tlie League's liomiuee, Mr C. R. Bell, took the chair.

In opening the proceedings Mr Bell indicated his determination to take a firm stand and to the best of his ability fulfil his position with justice to both sides. Mr J. Turbott hero objected to Mr Bell stipulating that all speakers were to address the audience from the platform, but his objection was ruled out.

Captain Potter asked if the League desired the merging of the Wliangarata School ? Mr Foley : No ! The first speaker 11 lay the cas9 for the retention of the two schools lief'oo the meeting was Mr Gubb chairman of the Tuakau Committee, who complained that the Inspector during his visit to report on the matter had ignored him. He quoted at, length the League's letter to the Education Board and also tho Inspector's report; many statements in the former, he stated, were contrary to fact He favoured the suggestion that a petition for and against should bo circulated to feel the wishes of the people. Mr Deeble, chairman of tho Tlarrisville Committee, followed and attacked the writer of the letter appearing in the Times of Tuesday and explained the reison why ho ha t moved his children to another school. Ah - Fulton denied that the League had taken any action in the matter until approached by the Board and had then voiced their opinion that a central school would serve tho interests of education better than the present arrangement. That the small school at Tuakau had obtained better results than the big school at Pukekohe was vouched for by Mr Ewing. He would not be a paity to the centralisation of the school and so deprive some children of their birthright to good and free education.

Mr Free believed strongly iu the centralisation of the school as tlio children would certainly receive the advantages attending larger schools where modern cniveniences were t<» be found. lie d-precuted the feeling exhibited and asked now the Board had a desire to do something for Tuakuu that the}' should cooperate and get the best oilering. The secretary of the League, Mr A. 11. Tapper, emphatically denied that he had offered his land to the Inspector as suggested by a previous speaker. Tie was aware that as secretary he had to put up with kicks, but ho always was guided in his actions by what die thought would benefit the district (Hear, hears.)

Mr Madill strongly supported the central school and Mr Revel strongly opposed it. Mr Madill st:ited tluif flarrisville people had approved of it ten years and Mr Eevel repudiated the remark. At the conclusion Mr Turbott moved, That this meeting disapprove the centralisation of the Tuakau and Hariisville schools as being against the wishes of t!ie pe-'ple and not in the hest interests of the people as a whole. Seconded l>y Mr Rook. An amendment. moved by Mr Fulton and seconded by Mr Geraghty was on tiie point of being put to the meeting when it got out of h tnd and ended in disorder.

The meeting was fruitless and 1 supposo the Board will have lo ustin ir owii judgment and go ahead with the central school if such is thought fit. One discoidant thing evidenced at the meeting was tin way the Loague was ridicr'ed by a certain section after the benefits it has earned for tiie people of 'i uak iu. Fair play, we are taught, is bonny play.

Notes. Mr C. 11. Bell resumes duty on Saturday after an absence! on sick leave for over six we- ks. Mr Staunton goes on to Mata Mata. She ('up ]>iv.H!iiied by Messrs Hand;ock to the Raglan Rugby Union is to hand, and the secretary, Mr Tapper, is foi warding it on to tho winners, United, by first opportunity.

TLio Tennis Club have gut their court in order and the intention is to open on the '2nd prox.

All the (!;ixmills are working at top speed ;:ud tliis augurs well for the progress, even if only temporary, of Tunkau.