The Times. PUBLISHED ON TUESDAY AND FRIDAY AFTERNOONS. "We nothing extenuate, nor set down aught in malice." FRIDAY, APRIL 11, 1919. PROPOSED TECHNICAL HIGH SCHOOL.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 8, Issue 465, 11 April 1919, Page 2

The Times. PUBLISHED ON TUESDAY AND FRIDAY AFTERNOONS. "We nothing extenuate, nor set down aught in malice." FRIDAY, APRIL 11, 1919. PROPOSED TECHNICAL HIGH SCHOOL.

Dt-rinll the last three or four years the growing population ot Pukekohe has rendered the question of Secondary and Technica' Education one that cannot be shelved much longer. The accommodation and facilities for higher education that were barely sufficient for our needs before the war, are now absurdly inadequate : and the position is causing no little adverse comment in the district. For three years members of the School Committee and various other residents have been agitating for the erection of a suitable Technical High School in Pukekohe, After a prolonged fight they have at last been successful in overcoming the apathy and even active resistance of the Fduc.ition Department lo the scheme ; and at the end of last year they were informed that Cabinet had authorised a substantial grant for the erect ion of such a school.

Tbi4 position was not arrived at without some trouble. For some reason the Department was most unwilling to take any step=; in the matter, and in the initial stages opposed the scheme in a determined, fashion, placing all conceivable objections and conditions in its way. The chief of these was the matter of a site. The Pukekohe Borough Council disposed of thC objection by finding £23o'i, wherewith a suitable site has been purchased. The Franklin County Council, however, in view of the fact thai the school will prov.de for the needs not only of Pukekohe, bu' of the gieater part of tlie Franklin district, has agreed to find half the interest and sinking fund. Such is the present position and it is more or less satisfactory. But still the school is not vet built ; and it behoves all those interested—and there should be very few of us who are not interested directly or indirectly—not to let the matter rest here but to act firmly and collectively to expedite its erection. The advantages of such, an institution in ['ukekohe are ] lain. First and foremost, it would enable chiluten to obtain a good secondary education without going sixty miles a day for it — a saving of nearly six hundred hours in the school year. Next it. would provide ample accommodation for those children who al-eadv attend the High School in Pukekohe, and who are obliged to work all the week in a building whi< !i, for lack of -pace and general conveniences, is a d; i: - g'-.-v,. to any countrv town. Thirdly it would enable children to be [aught several useful trades ih'.-ov-fVi! iustinction tK\ re ,•,•-,-,■ 0 r.n-nit. Further, •'■'■ ;,r, >. -I); , • ' -."l''" lU\ "1 ' i! U', ! "M ' ;■ o< i U .: : , the expansion ,„,) . ■■„ ..! !..■■ 1,, nmi .,,l ,j 1';.!.-.. 11l '.iiort. thv. move would have results probably far greater than are anticipated by even the more sanguine of its promoters. The standard of Secondary education in Pukekohe, to judge from recent results, is very high, surpassing according to last year's figures taken on a percentage of attending child ten 1 the results of anv

othsi city ot country secondary school in the Auckland District. With a suitable technical school. with its improved facilities and increased staff —in which one man

will not be expected to be an expert in a variety of subjects—still greater results maf-'be looked