OPOTIKI SCHOOL NEEDS

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 903, 21 February 1930, Page 18

OPOTIKI SCHOOL NEEDS

DEPUTATION TO MINISTER From Our OicH Correspondent OPOTIKI, Thursday. The Minister of Education, the Hon. H. Atmore, arrived at Opotiki late last evening from Gisborne, after a busy day inspecting the schools on the way. A deputation, headed by Mr. W. Burrett, chairman of the school, committee, -waited on tho Minister and placed before him various school needs. He pointed out that there was serious overcrowding at the Opotiki School, pupils having to be accommodated elsewhere. Additions were urgently needed; although additions to the infant school had been authorised nothing had been done there. The need of a manual training school, also facilities to train girls in home science, were also referred to. The playing area was very limited, and there was a suitable area alongside the school. This was the property of the Justice Department and it was suggested that another area could be secured for the police. It was pointed out that the public during the last five years had subscribed .£I,OOO to the school funds. The Minister was also asked to help secure a dental clinic nurse, sufficient funds having been collected some time ago for the clinic.

Mr. K. S. Williams, member for the Bay of Plenty, supported the speakers. Ths Minister gave a very sympathetic hearing to the requests and said mere dental clinic nurses were being trained. He then gave a lengthy address on educational questions. This morning the Minister inspected the public school and left fur TancaLua and Whakatane.