EDUCATION DISTRICT BOUNDARIES.

Taranaki Daily News, 18 October 1915, Page 7

EDUCATION DISTRICT BOUNDARIES.

A STRONG PROTEST. In a deluge of rain, < under the meagre and very doubtful shelter of an old haystack on a farm near Lowgarth, a gathering of Hawera, Mangatoki, and Lowgarth farmers yesterday passed a strong resolution of protest against the possibility of an alteration of boundaries of the education districts in South Taranaki, which might result tn some portions of the district being lost to the Wanganui Board. Mr. J. Blair, president of the Hawera Farmers' Agricultural Class, said that they had all seen enough to realise the enormous benefit this agricultural instruction work was going to be to the district, and they were all now right out to see it through. There was a hint that there was a probability of a good portion of Southern Taranaki being cut off from the Wanganui Education Board —that progressive Board which started this movement under Mr. Browne's directions. It was due to Air. Bro,wne's unbounded enthusiasm that the work had reached its present stage, and it was now certain to go right ahead, if not Interfered with. If the Wanganui Education Board could keep it going for a few years evi*7 district would have strong, enthusiastic classes of both young and old, and it would be a great pity indeed if anything came in the way of the fulfilment of this. He felt-Tsure that this mee.iiuj of representative farmers, although not under the most favorable weather conditions, would enter a strong protest against any alteration of the Kilucntfon Boad boundaries wVeh might intjrfbrt vith this most valuable and useful work. He would move "That tins gathering of Hawera and Mangatoki farawrs consider it inadvisable for the Wanganui district, so far south as Patca, to be meTged into Taranaki, for the reasons (1) that the farmers' sons and the farm, ers themselves, are at present receiving instruction that is of direct benefit to themselves and the district; (2) that this instruction would be considerably disorganised by a change of district and consequent change of method which had proved itself adequate to fulfil local conditions," In seconding the motion, Mr. McGuinness said it would be a very great pity If this work were interfered with. They had a strong, class at Mangatoki, and every one of the farmers theTe were now satisfied that Mr. Browne, was working along right lines. It would be altogether a step in the wrong direction if they were now cut off from the Wanganui Education District. Mr. Curteis, speaking as president of the Northern Division of the Taranaki Teachers' Institute, pointed out that last Easter, Mr. Browne had a teachers' class in agriculturo for a fortnight, in order to fit them to follow up this work along proper lines at their different schools. Since then the teachers had awaken the work up property, with the result that the boys were just as keen'as the m#>. This would be of very great value and importance to the district later on. - If this part of the district were tacked on to the Taranaki Board, teachers would have to go back a number of years in their methods, and whilst it would not affect their positolns or salaries, it would be a great pity for the district and for the cause of advanced and progressive education if this should happen. The motion was unanimously carried. —Hawera Star.