TUAKAU SCHOOL.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 7, Issue 395, 26 July 1918, Page 1

TUAKAU SCHOOL.

(To the Editor.) Sir,—Once again we have proof that a certain number of people in this district are out to block propress by making a fresh attempt to hold up the grant already voted t» provide more accommodation for tkt education of the children. The School Committee are taking the Matter up strongly, and are not going t« mince matters in connection therewith. They have no hesitation in saying that the action of certain members of the Tuakau Town Board in this direction is most discseditable, that they have overstepped their functions, aid have proved themselves to be inconsistent and utterly unreliable when making assertions re school matters. They (the Town Board members) represent only their own feelings •■ the matter, and we consider it due to the householders and ratepayers of this district that their actions be shown to the public view. We hope the following facts will convince any who may yet doubt it that tliere must be gome ulterior motive behind all this antagonism of the Board to the scheme for building a school on Glasgow's site. On May 14, 1917, a 1 petition was sent to the School Committee, signed by Messrs. Dynes Fulton and J. Pirret, and 11 other householders, requesting us to meet them and discuss existing conditions, and asking us to eome to an understanding. This was acceded to, and arising out of this a deputation waited on the Board of Edueation, and left the impression with them—in fact, told them—that the district was unanimously willing to leave the matter in their hands. Mr. Dynes Fulton was one of the speakers in favour of this. Following on that, a committee from the Board visited Tuakau twice, being accompanied the last time by the Senior Inspeotor. After a thorough examination of the district, they eventually met the householders, and, after a short discussion, the meeting agreed to accept whatever decision was arrived at. Messrs. Fulton and Pirret were present at that meeting, and with the others signified their agreement to that course. The decision of the Board, after considering the mater oarefully, was that Glasgow's site should be purchased, and Cabinet lately voted a sum of money for that purpose. Now, this is where our consistent men come in. As soon as it was published that the Minister for Edueation was coming North they put their heads together, and met him in Auckland, and went right back on their word. Mr. Fulton, who was spokesman, said that the locality was unsuitable, and the area too small, seeing that a number of children rode to school and there would not be sufficient accommodation for horses. The last statement was false, as no children ride to Tuakau School, only eight live over the two-mile and under the three-mile radius from the proposed site, whilst 22* children live less than two miles away, showing that there i< no need for many to ride at all. The Committee felt it their duty to put the trus statement of the case before the Minister. Hence the deputation to him at Pukekohe. The hon. gentleman became so much interested that he decided to investigate for himself, and motored over to Tuakau, followed by the Committee and Town Board representatives. One of the latter (Mr. Craig) declared there that he would favour the old school behiL' added to, although he had fought against it for years. Mr. Fulton declared that he was right out for the closing of the Tuakau, Harrisville, and Whangarata Schools, and erecting one central one, ignoring the fact that the Inspector had said that it was too large a district in whieh to bring all the children to one centre. He also denied that he had ever been in favour of Glasgow's site, but the weight of evidence was against him. Mr. Craig was also asked to reconcile his latest movement of getting Mr. Glasgow to try and hold up the matter by offering another site nearer the railway, with his action in endeavouring to persuade the Board lately to purchase a site known as Bycroft's, in the Harrisville district. The Minister had quite a merry time, and expressed a wish that he had been here before. It was better than Charlie Chaplin's latest. However, Sir, to be seri«us. Every statement they made was combated by the Committee, evidently to the satisfaction of the Minister, for he toll Messrs. Craig and Fulton they were too late. Spaoe forbids me to encroach further, but we hope the people of this district will not allow it to become the laughing Btook of neigh bouring places. They should put men into public positions whose actions will be oonsistent with their publio statements. Tuakau would then become less of a littla Puddleton, and more worthy of being regarded as a progressive centre.—For the Tuakau School Committee, EDWARD T. FBOST. Chairman. 28/7/18.

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