The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER MONDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 1915. THE HIGH SCHOOL QUESTION.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVIII, Issue 64, 15 November 1915, Page 4

The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER MONDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 1915. THE HIGH SCHOOL QUESTION.

The visit of 'the Hon. J. A. Hanan to this district was of more than ordinary importance, because it gave opportunity for full.v placing before the Minister for Education a matter of paramount interest so far as education is concerned in central Taranaki. It is beyond question that sooner or later the disestablishment of the Stratford District High School | must take place and a separate High School be erected. Years of splendid work and the line records of students at the Stratford School have made it famous, while the very central position and the suitability of railway arrangements for scholars from both north and south of Stratford assure an ever-growing attendance. As Mr It. Masters, one of Stratford's representatives on the Education Board, showed the Minister, there is at this time undue over-crowding in the existing District High School, and each year the number of applicants for admission grows. Therefore something must be done and a beginning made with what, at least in normal times, would be an absolutely urgent work. But recognising that these are not normal times, the deputation merely asked the Minister to secure a site for the future building, and in urging this matter they were decidedly right. The Chairman of the School Committee, Mr P. Skogluud, very properly pointed out that the price of land in Stratford, or close at band, would most likely be enhanced by the trade conditions which are likely to follow on the war, and that therefore the truest economy would be to secure 11 site at once. There is also very much to be said in favour of Mr Skogjund's advocacy of a site being purchased of sufficient area to permit some instruction in agricultural and farming matters to be given, for undoubtedly from force of circumstances, by natural inclination, and as wise young men. a very large percentage of the High School students of our district will have their future to carve' out of the land. In such a country as Now Zealand, and especially in such a district a s Taranaki, it is the Government's bounden duty to give every assistance to matters which may advance farming, as the country's greatest industry, and how better could they do this than by providing easy facilities for the acquirement of knowledge in agriculture. Mr H. Trimble's remarks, as Chairman of the Taranaki Education Board, wore strongly in favour of the provision oi

a School of Agriculture in this district, and happily told the Minister how lie might make a name for himself by sanctioning the opening of a High School which would provide instruction in agriculture. Naturally the key-note of the Minister’s reply was the want of money and the difficulty of finding it, and while entirely sympathetic with the desires of the deputation, he could only promise :° see what recommendations he would be able to place before bis colleagues. Though we may hardly hope tor much at this present time, it is something to have been able to impress on the Minister the fairness of what is asked, and the desirability of furthering education in agriculture, and to have enlisted his sympathies in a very worthy object.