TURNED DOWN HARD.

Shannon News, 9 December 1924, Page 3

TURNED DOWN HARD.

NO MORE MONEY FOR FEILDING HIGH SCHOOL. ‘‘The time has come to say ‘no’ to Mr Tolley," said the Hon. C. J. Parr, at Feilding this week, after hearing a list of the requirements of tne Feilding Agricultural High School placed before him by the chairman of. the Board of Managers. ‘('So far as Feilding is concerned, I have come to a dead stop." Mr Tqlley enumerated the requirements. as follow: (1) A room equipped as a science laboratory, this, being a necessity in an Agricultural Hign School. (2) A class room for 36 pupils, to complete the. school building. (3) A grant of £IOO for a cycle shed and the.' completion of the paths round the hostel. . ■(4) A grant of £4OO for swimming baths.

(5) They should have a farm to teach farming. The school required a suitable area of land, say 100 acres at £2O to £25 an acre. By the time Mr Tolley had cpme to No. 3' Mr Parr remarked that if Mr Tolley went on much longer he could see that Mr Massey would go on the London market at once. Mr Tolley, continuing, said a number of people had donated purebred stock to the school. Would the Department grant a subsidy on these donations? “We mignt be looked on as idealists,” said the chairman, “but we wish to give a thorough agricultural education. We look forward to the time when visitors to New Zealand asking what is being done in agricultural education will be. told to go to Feilding.” . Mr Parr was most, pronounced and unmistakable in his reply. “It is very hard to say too’ to Mr Tolley, but the time has. come to take him firmly m hand." After reminding the deputation of what had 4 been done in Feilding, . the Minister mentioned other places—Tauranga, Te Kuiti, Dargaville, Marton—which were making demands for facilities for. secondary education, and he had to remember fie was Minister of Education for tfie whole of New Zealand. The. school farm, Mr Parr, pointed out, was not his trouble. He must refer Mr Tolley to the Hon. Mr Nosworthy, Minister of Agriculture, on that matter. Feilding whs doing exceptionally well. He reminded Mr. r Tolley of the additional grant made to complete the hostel, the Board giving its. word that there would not be a request for additional class rooms if this grant were made. He would be prepared to help in the small. matter of the paths-, to complete the hostel. Regarding the swimming baths, tlie policy of the. Department would be. followed—£l for £1 subsidy would be given towards the cost of construction.

“The matter of squaring the block of the school building was out of the question this year or the early part of next, year,” said the Minister in conclusion. “I have come to a dead stop.” Mr A. H. Atkinson asked if the Minister WQUId hoar Mr Wild (the Director) on the , question of the laboratory. • (Mr Parr replied with some acerbity that he had already heard Mr Wild, and had sheets of foolscap on the question. , ' Mr J. S. Tingey (Mayor) thanked the Minister, for coming to Feilding to perform the. opening ceremony and congratulated him (on the progress being made with secondary education in New Zealand,