PATUMAHOE

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 5, Issue 235, 15 December 1916, Page 2

PATUMAHOE

SCHOOL ACCOMMODATION QUESTION.

HOAKD MEMBERS' VISIT,

Having bce:i appointed as a sobcommittee by the Education Board to report on the matter of the request of the Patumahoe School Committee for improved school accommodation, Mtssrs J. Hoodie (Te Kuiti) and W. Auld (Hawiltoi) tha Waikato representatives on the Board, vnited Patumahoe last Tuesday, 'l'bey were met at Fake* kohe by Messrs J. B. (joldssorthy and E. C. Cutf, chairman and sec* retary respectively of the School Committee, aDd were conveyed outin Mr Cuff's motor car by way of the West Mauku School, which was first inspected. At the Patumahce School the party was joined by Messrs J. Henry and W. Plevdell, members of the School Jonimittee. Both Mr Boddie aDd Mr Auld addressed the children, who, on being given ten minutes recreation, took advan tage of the interval by eoing to the school garden and making uo button-holes, which they presented to the visitors anri to the members of the School Committee.

It wae explained to Messrs Boddie aud Auld that the school had no additional accommodation now with 92 scholars on thd roll to what it had when erected 40 years ago to accommodate 35 children. The visitors saw the unsuitable and unfavourable conditions under which the school was worked by reason ot the accommodation bfing overtaxed and voiced the opinion, wlich has beeu shared by all members of the Board who have visited the school ol late, that the overcrowding was unhealthy, both for teacherß and children. Ibey promised to do all in their power to see that better accommodation waa provided. In expressing both pleasure and surprise at the excellance of tfce lands of the district they considered that nuch high-class farming hDd was destined at no distant date to carry a greatly ire eaaed population so that any accommodation provided at the school in excess of present immediate neds waa certain to be required in the near future, 'lhey were more than ever convinced in this way when on prrc edirg to the site of the Patumhhoe railway station they wera informed as to the arrangements being made there by the Kailway Department lor the handling of passenger anl goods traffic, for they recognised that it waß ti"e idea of the Department that considerable development would ensue in the district after the advent of tfce railway service.