THE PROPOSED SCHOOL.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 2, Issue 128, 16 September 1913, Page 3

THE PROPOSED SCHOOL.

I On pjkokohe-Patumahce Road. Deputation To School Committee. Following the refusal of the Auck- ! land Er'u'ation Board to tecom- ! mend the erection of a school ! between Pukekohe and Patumahoe, the residents of the locality interested again approached the Beard with the modified surges!ion arc! query: If they built the rchcol would the Board provida a tcachrr? The urshot of this was the proposal that it should he a side school under the control cf the Pukekohe School Committee, and it w< r s Rith t'e object of gaining the sane'ion cf the Pukekohe School Committee that a deputation waited on them at a special meeting on Saturday mght, when there were pr.se:;t—Messrs Lawrie (chairman), Piikinglon, Patterson, Perkins, Daysh, Hirdman and Cargill. The proceedings were somewhat protracted, for though the committee favorably regarded the proio3al, a diversity of opinion exist*d es to the best course (o pur. c u\

Mr J. Pollock said the deputation represented 30 settlers wh'i desired to stcura better facilities for the education of their children. He detailed the steps taktn, and as the outcome cf tleir last application to the Board the derutation wsnt'.d to know if the Pukekohe Committee would favour the eatablishment of a side school, to te urder their control. It was estimated that tie attendance wculd te between 40 and 45, ff whom 12 were at p:es?nt attending the Pukekohe school, so it would be seen it would increase the roll of the Pukekohe tchccl. At present mEny of the younger children could not attend school; many cf thess attending on account rf the bad roads and weather only msde 25 per cent, of attendances. This was a great hardship for the children, as it placed them benind the cthera.

Mr D. Hill, t!e ether representative, endorsed Mr Toilock's vi-ws. In reply to questions Mr Pollock said the settlers li*d told the Board they were prepared to put up the school, and that if the school only went to the third standard, the number would be reduced by about 7.

Mr Perkir.s: Has a>y communication on this matter been .'eesived from the Board? Mr Patterson: No.

Mr Hill explained that the chairman of the Board had told the deputation to put their offer in writing. The Board would rot get this until their next meeting, after which he presumed the Board would, as promiser l , wiite to the Committee.

Mr Perkins wished to correct the impression that had got abroad that the Committee bad opposed the efforts of the residents to secure the school, 'lhe matter had never b.en even discussed. After hearing the deputation, personally he would support their efforts, and he thought that if they were willing to put their hinds in their pockets no school committee or resident would oppose them.

Mr Hindman supported the deputation's application, and said personal experience trade him awara of the difficulties the younger children had to meet. Mr Patterson said he was not opposed to a side school, but since the Committee had been unjustly blamed in tne past he did not think it fair that the Board should now throw on the Committee the onus of deciding. The Board should say straight-out what they w„re going to do. If anything happened to prevent the school being established the whole blame woild he thrown on the committee. Mr Pilkington, after denying that the Committee had worked against the movement in the past, said that if the status of the school was r.ot affected he could not see how the Committee could stand in the way. The chairman expressed his sympathy with the movement, and since the Pukekohe school would not sufer, but rather gain, he urged the Committee to help the deputation with the Board. He moved, That this Committee recommend the Board to put in a side Echool.

Mr Hi.idman seconded the resc lution.

Mr Cargill said ho wes prepared to support the movement provided the Pukekche school did not suffer. Though they might ail fircercly sympathise with the deputation, they had to remember that their first duty was to their cwn school. As laymen they cnuld r.ot say ii this side school were established if it would affect the pressnt staffing. Tbey were in complete ignorance on many points which they should know, and he thought they should have fuller information before passing such a resolution had been proposed. Mi Patterson agreed with Mr Cargill, and said the Committee had nu right to make "a blind man's

move," The chairman disagreed with the last two speakers. He wai. Eure there was to danger of the staffing of the school being interfered with. Mr Cargiil: Do you make that statement authoritatively? J he chairman: No, I can't say that; it's my opinion. Continuing, he expressed the hops that the resolution momd be carried. Mr Perkins regretted he did not share the optimism cf the chairman. He thought that before committing themselves they should make certain what would happen, Mr Piikingtcn considered the pjint raised by Mr Cargiil very important. The Committee should safeguard themselves, and this being done they could then assist the committee. He would move as an amendment, "That this Committee, understanding thai ihe sutua of the I'ukekohe High School will not be affected, and that the staff will not be reduced in consequence, gives its approval to the appointment of a teacher to the 3chool to ne provided in the district under consideration." After some discussion the chairman withdrew bis motion in favour of Air Pilkingion's amendment, which Mr Hindman seconded. Mr Pattcr. : Oii, whist liking lie new motion bettor than the old one, regarded ii as dangerous to tiie Committee and inimical to the desires of the deputation. If the Board wanted a loop-hole by which to escape the resolution afford:d them one. They had dimply lo i:ay: "We arc not going to have any eouditiouti imposed on us"; they could kill the scheme and the Pukekohe Committee

7ii3 chairn;an di?ar. ted entirely with .Mr PaiUrson T e Boar.'i would sec t ; e prsition and recognising tie el in:.- cf the Pukekohe Committ e wcild so; ti.ey were not interfered with. It was absurd to say that the Boatd would tske advantage cf the c nclitior.s to wriggle out.

Is'r Cargill moved as an amer.clment: "That the deci:ion on this question be defeired pending receipt of a communication ;'rom the Board, but that tinj Committee intimate to the deputation that they are favourable to the establishment of a eido school providid the status and efficiency of th? s'aff uf th2 Pukekohe High hcr.ot 1 wfs not detrimentally affected." In speaking to the amendment he roinfed out that in the resolution they propeseti to send an option to the Board for which they had r.ot been asked, whiht the anridiur.t assured ths deputation that the Ccmmittea was net opposed to the proposal. This was all the deputation required. He argued that the Committee had to d:?l with two factors —the e'eput?.tiun and the Board. The formes they had to deal with that night, and the proper course was r.o* to wait until the Board placed before the Committee their suggesiiors. Mr P.rkins, in se on.iing the amendment, said it wss tirre enough to write to the Beard when the Bo3rd wrote to them.

The chairman strongly opposed the amendment. They should let the Board know what they thought, ai.d it would help the deputation. What would be the difference if the Committee wailed until the Board wrote and found the conditions were such that they could rot accept?

Mr Patterson: The diiTererca would be that the onus \i on the Board, now you want to place on our shoulders the onus of making corditiors which the Bs-ard might not accept. The chairman, continuing, said the Board need net take any notice of the conditions and could do what they chose. Mr Patterson: Ihen if the ns lution is of no value why are you so keen on pushing it through?

J he chairman said he reacted (he resolution to be carried because it would help the deputation when they went to the L'oard meeting and wcuid expedite mattert. Mr Patterson s};oke in favour of the £.mendmen f , which he claimed was more in the true interests of the deputation than the resolution. At present ever;,things was vague, and they did not even know to what standard ilia side school would po. Mr Daysh supported the lesolutio', as he cunncl. j red it sufficiently safeguarded their interests. Mr Pilkington pointed out that unless the decision was unanimous the benefit would be lost. There was so little between the two that it was a pity the Committes could not Le unarirrous. Mr Pilkirgton's efforts proved unavailing, and the amendment was put and Lst and the resolution then carried, tha voting, a division being called for, biing:-Ayes: The chairman, Messra Pilkiigtor, Hindman, Daysh. Noes: Messrs Perkins, Patterson, Cargill.