The Daily News. TUESDAY, JUNE 16, 1914. STARVING THE HIGH SCHOOLS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 22, 16 June 1914, Page 4

The Daily News. TUESDAY, JUNE 16, 1914. STARVING THE HIGH SCHOOLS.

Things have reached a pretty pass in connection with the High School when the headmaster's private quarters have been commandeered, in order to find room for boarders, to such an extent that he is unable in live in comfort and decency. Mr. Moves has shown during the time he has been in charge of the school that he places its interests always before his own, and has in consequence suffered discomforts for a long time past which the average man would/ never have tolerated for a day, but the time has come When in the interests of the school, more perhaps than in the interests qf himself and family, a protest should be entered against the continuance of a condition of things that is both inconvenient and undesiraole. It required no apology on the part of the Principal for having drawn pointed attention to the way in which he is situated and refusing to carry on for another year under such conditions. He was perfectly justified, The wonder is that he has put up with the conditions for so long without protest. The Board, in discussing the situation yesterday, recognised the justice of the protest, but, as will be seen from the report of their remarks elsewhere, the/ are "up against" the old difficulty—lack of sufficient finance. Upon the Government was placed the blame for the shortage of funds. There cannot be any doubt but that the Government is not treating New Plymouth fairly over the High Schools. Whereas it has funds in plenty—according to the optimistic Prime Minister—

and can afford to give liberally to other secondary schools not nearly so deserving as New Plymouth's, it will extend the latter no help whatever; in fact, it has done, and is still doing, its best—or worst—to block the progress of both the Boys' and Girls' High Schools. No Government has yet given New Plymouth a grant for the High Schools, though grants in plenty and of considerable dimensions have been bestowed on other well-endowed secondary schools. 'We. quite agree with the observation of one of the members of the Board that it is a scandal to be so treated by the Government. The matter is one that should be again brought prominently before the Minister for Education and the Prime Minister, though after their past indifference to the claimß of our growing schools we have little hope of any practical result. The Board, we think, acted wisely in deciding to act on its own resources and take steps to borrow the sum of £9OOO with which to provide the necessary accommodation at the two schools. The most perhaps that can be hoped for in the circumstances is that the Government will facilitate the Board in extending its borrowing powers and raising the money, instead of, as in the iiast, practically retarding the development of the schools. To submit to Government indifference at the present moment is to seriously injure the school in many respects, and cannot for a moment be thought of. We are glad the Board is of the same opinion.