THE HIGH SCHOOL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 58, 29 July 1914, Page 2

THE HIGH SCHOOL.

PUBLIC MEETING TO BE CALLED. That the lack of accommodation at the New Plymouth High School, in both departments, has been watched for some time, and need for a better state of affairs keenly recognised by the people of New Plymouth, was amply evidenced yesterday, when a large and influential deputation waited upon his Worship the Mayor (Mr. J. E. Wilson) at the Town Hall yesterday with a request that he convene a public meeting for the purpose of discussing matters' in connection with, the school. Mr. N. K. McDiarmid introduced the question, and among those' present were Messrs E. Griffiths, W. J. Penn, J. 1-.. Roy, E. Gilmour, J. Paton, 0. E. Baker, F. E. Wilson, A. E. Watkins, V. S. Johns, A. M'Hardy, H. Bailyt E. P. Webster, E. Garner, A. R. Standish, J. S. S. Medley, C. E. BelMnger, and K. C. Webster.

j Mr. McDiarmid, in introducing the matter, pointed out that the G'overni ment had virtually starved the school. Notwithstanding the school's, great progress in the last few years, its accomodation had not been proportionately increased, and was now, especially in the girls' department, exceedingly limited. The deputation therefore requested his i Worship, if lie could see fit, to call a ptblic meeting in order to strengthen the hands of their member and the toard in obtaining a free grant from the '.Government for the purpose of erecting additional buildings for the scholastic part of the school, for which approximately £7OOO was required. It was absolutely necessary, he continued, that something should bo done immediately. The girls were housed in indifferent buildings which were not up -to the standard of a girls' high school, and as a site had already been secured for the purpose the deputation considered tliat a girls' sohooJ should be erected thereon. This, is was estimated, would cost about £4OOO. Then there were additions which should be made in the boys' school. For instance, it was a disgrace that there was no isolation ward or room, and that in case of any sickness among the pupils the principal should have to provide accommodation in his own residence. Then new class-rooms were required for the boys' school, and also a masters' room,' the cost of these improvements being estimated at £3OOO. The deputation, therefore, thought that the Government should make them a free grant of £7OOO for the purposes outlined., feeling that they were justly entitled to same. They desired his Worship to call a public meeting in order to urge upon the Minister, through their member, the necessity for such •). vote.

Mr. J. B. Roy, in supplementing Mr, MacDiarmid's remarks, referred to the wonderful progress that had been made by the school, and said this 1 should not .he retarded in any way. It was absolutely necessary that the hoard's finance's should fb'c placed in such a state a? to put it in a position to cope with the demand. The sc'hool gave every indication, under the present management, of becoming one of the largest in the Dominion, ami he had great pleasure in supporting the request, which he was sure would appeal to the Mayor, who was an old High School boy. Mr. Griffiths supported the remarks «.* the previous speakers. His Worship said it would be a great pleasure to him to fall in with the wishes* of the deputation, as he felt that tho people of Taranaki generally were, watching the school with interest, and were appreciative of its value to the district. As the deputation had pointed out, the progress of the boys' school under the belter arrangements' was an indication of the interest the people ot Taranaki were taking in their schoolIt was a matter in which he took a keen interest, being himself an old High School boy and a former member and chairman of the Board of Governors. The Board, through no fault of its own, had not heen able to do justice to the girls' part of the school. There was a very crying need for a new girls' school. It was'not fair to the staff or to the pupils themselves that the present condition of things should continue He would have great pleasure in calling a public meeting to discuss the question and to pass such resolution- a* nugh,he thought wiessaiiry.