TUAKAU SOUTH HOUSEHOLDERS' MEETING.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 4, Issue 5, 19 January 1915, Page 1

TUAKAU SOUTH HOUSEHOLDERS' MEETING.

"♦ A meeting of householders of the Tuakau South district was held in tbe Public School, Tuakau Stuth, on Wfcdnesday evening last, when a fairly large number of householders gathered together tu discuss and decide on the action to be taken id regard to the pioposed removal of the school from the present site on the luakau-Raglan road (southern end to the township of Tuakau. Mr Gubb, chairman of the School Committee, presided, tie said that the Tuakau Progressive League had made contiuous proposals dating back frcm the Ist October, 1912, for the erection of a central school in 'luakau, would nave meant, if granted, that the Tuakau schncl, witn a total of 113 pupils on the roll, and only accommodation for 80 children, and the Harrisville school, with an average attendance of 85 pupils, would have both been closed. Tbe Tuakau South school was situated one and a-half miUs, and the Harrisville school was ■ituated one and a-qaarter miles, from tbe railway station, and already some of tie children attending the South Tuakau school had to walk one and a-half miles, from th? southern crd of the school district to school. When the school re-opens after the holidays, children who were livng on the Onewhero side of tue Waikatu river would be attending the school as pupils ana would have to walk a considerable distance to the school. When tha Tuakau South school became overcrowded in November of last year, the accommodation in the school being inadequate for the large attendance of children, and the School Committee asked the Board to enlarge the school and so do away with the question of overcowding. The Board decided that the school district and the school should be inptected, which loapector Gerrard did, but Up to the time of tbe meeting the School Committee bad rot received any correspondence relating to lnpsector Gerrard's visit. Be read a letter written to tbe School Committee on behalf of the Auckland Education Board, in which it was stated that the memners of thai Board would visit the luakau school district on tbe 20th mst, and go into the whole question or school requirements in the vicinity of Tuakau. The meeting bad been convened to place school n.atters in general belore the hQUS?ho!'/!erß, aid also to discuss the matter oi it """d's vi«it. 'ltie Education Boaid had okouoj iuc Schoool Cmmittee that they had decided too include the whole of the Town Board area in the luakau school district, including a portion of the Harriaville district. Mr E. Strickett, a member of tbe Harrisville School Committed, was of the opinion that if the boundary was extended, as suggested, that it would be a detriment to the Harrisville school. Mr T. Lapwood asked if the Education Board members would receive a depuation from tbe householders of tbe school district. Mr Turbott, chairman of the Harrisville School Committee, said that the School Committee were not going to be overlooked, as would be the case if tbe Towii Board received the members of tbe Education Board on the 20th inst. Mr E. T. Frost considered that the School Committee should meet the Board members and take them around the school district and also to the school, in a brake. Mr E. C. Frost said that if the children bad to attend a school in the township it woud mean that they woulld be in close proximity to the sileyards, and he objected strongly to such an event happening. Mr E. T. Frost saia that the School Committee represented tbe people and the Town Board had no right to take precedence of tl>. committee. Mr T. Lapwood suggested that the Town Board members should meet the School Committee.

Mr Gubb said that they would not, and although some of them weri living in tha school district arta nr:ne of th?m had attended that meeting, He informed the meeting that under a new Act the Education Board had authority on any person's recommendation to alter BChuol boundaries without having to first consult the school committee. Mr E. C. Frost thought that a motion should be sent from the householders present at the meeting, and he proposed that thu householdets should meet the members of the Education Board, between 11.30 a.m. and 12 noon, at the school, on the dav of their arrival in Tuakm and also that a strong protest against the alteration of tre school district boundaries, as suggested by the Education Board, be forwarded to that body. Mr Lang seconded the proposal, which was carried unanimously. Mr E. C. Frost moved a vote of tbsnki to the chairman, and this was carried unanimously. It was also decided to notify the members of the Education Board that tbe School Committee would be treating them on their arrival at the station.