MINISTER FOR EDUCATION.

Taranaki Daily News, 30 April 1917, Page 6

MINISTER FOR EDUCATION.

VISIT TO STBATFORD. The Hon. ,T. A. Hannan, Minister of Education, accompanied iby Dr Anderson, Director of Education, were motored through to Stratford on Saturday by Mr E. Masters, chairman of the Board of Education. At Norfolk road til© party was joined' bv Mr H. Trimble, a member of the Board. En route, the •Minister paid a visit to tlie Hon. 0. Samuel, M.L.C., at ''the Meeting of the Waters." After luncheon, the party, accompanied by Messrs J. Boon (Mayor of Stratford), J. W. McMillan, and F. J. McDonald, representing the school committee, E. Jackson and J. B. Richards, representing the Model Farm Committee, F.Tyrer (master of the Stratford District High School), and R. E. Browne (Director of Agriculture), visited the proposed site of the projected separate high school, which is within close proximity to Stratford, and also the proposec model dairy farm of 143 acres adjoining. On returning to town the party adjourned to the Municipal Cliambersj where Stratford's requirements. were placed before the 'Minister by a deputation, comprising, in addition to those already mentioned, Messrs J. -Masters, C. Jackson, P. Skogland, Geo. Smart 1 , A. W. Budge, E. iS. Rutherford, W. P. Kirkwood, V. Crawshaiw, Geo. gangster, R. i Dingle, P. Hartley, W. A. Hewitt, and T. Harry Penn. SEPARATE HIGH SCHOOL. Tlio Mayor, after extending a hearty welcome to the Minister and Director of Education, pointed out that at present the Stratford District High School was overcrowded, the school being not only too small and unsuitable, hut was in a position where it obtained all the dust from the street. Stratford's central position lent itself admirably to the train service both north and south, also for over 50 miles out east, where there was a lot of undeveloped country, which would cotnain many schools, where children would graduate to the Stratford High School. Later, he considered, it would be esesntial that a hoarding establishment should he established, as where the trains were not suitable, children did not arrive home until late at night, which was not desirable. Mr J. W. McMillan, chairman of the School Committee, said that it was felt the time had come iwhen a separate high school should be established. The average of 150 for the past two years justified this. Tn the first place he said that if under the stress of war conditions, finances would not permit of the school being established in the near future, ho wished to impress on the Minit3er the need of securing the land viewed that afternoon, as it might not be available when it was required. He pointed out Stratford's excellent geographical position. It would be admitted-that the Stratford District High School had shown by the number of hoys put through University College, that its pupils possessed brains worthy of being advanced. He pointed out that the establishment of a separate high school would mean a separate staff, and would enable the headmaster of the primary school to devote more time to the pupils and teachers, who must, to some extend, be neglected now. He stressed the point that Stratford people had never- hampered the Government by- asking- for "flash" public buildings.

Mr B. Masters said that the Education Board was strongly in favor of the application, and it showed plainly the keen interest taken in the matter jy farmers and business men, when such a strong deputation could wait on the Minister on a Saturday. The application was not made on account of any dissatisfaction with tho work done at the District High School, which had served its purpoes and served it .well. All were proud of its record and its headmaster, and looked on the school with pride. The principal reason was "because the school could dnt. accommodate a large number of children, chiefly because there was no , hoarding establishment for children whom the trains did not suit. Another reason was that there were 150 children in the secondary department, divid- | cd into seven classes, and the work here' took up 'SO per cent, of the headmaster's time, so that tho primary department must suffer. At present the school was overcrowded, the Technical College being used. Tho proposed site, he considered, was nn admirable one, being alongside tho Model Dairy Farm, of which the committee would lease the Education Board 43 acres at less rental than it piad. It would,, he thought, be the best site in tho North Island for such a school. The lines on which the school should be run were a matter for the Minister and Director, but he hoped it would be run on practical lines. He also hoped that the control of the school would be under the Taranaki Education Board, who would lease the 43 acres, and so save dual control. Whatever the school was called, it would ibe a distinct benefit to the district. He would like to see a boarding establishment decided on, in the interests of tho country children, and he pointed out they were having the same trouble in the New Plymouth Technical College, where the Board were arranging a- hostel for the accommodation of country children. He hoped that they would decide to secure the. site to-day and next session place an aniount on the estimates for the building. Mr E. Jackson, president of the Stratford lAS & P. Committee and chairman of the Model Dairy Farm Committee, said the deputation thought that the Model Dairy "Farm should be within easy reach of the Stratford High School, and to that end . had confined the locality to within three or four miles, finally securing the site visited that afternoon, adjoining the proposed school and within half a mile of the present school. It was proposed to hand 43 acres over to the Education Board at £4O per annum, as it was recognised that it would he of great benefit to the boys to have the assistance of the' practical knowledge which wa9 essential to make them practical dairy farmers, so that they can follow farming pursuits 'with confidence. It was said that hoys flocked to the towns, and the committee desired to inculcate in them a liking for the country. Mr J. 33. Richards, after referring to the absence of Captain J. B. Hine, M.P., who was on active service, stated that the Model Dairy Farm scheme had been taken up with so much enthusiasm and confidence that 12 or 14 men had made themselves liable for £2500 for improvements, the purchase of implements and stock, and the carrying out of farming operations, which would be under the control of a board comprised of tho best local farmers. He pointed out the benefits that would accrue to the boys in having the Model Farm alongside tlu school, and also stated that it wouh! be of advantage to the Model Dairy Fara'masagers, who would obtain ad-